|
José Bernardes Santana, coffee producer with over twenty years experience, is the owner and manager of Fazenda Pedra Redonda. The property is located in a region with an altitude varying between 940 and 1400 metres and partially rough topography, which provides an excellent environment for coffee cultivation.
The prevailing soil is the dark humid red latosol, with good fertility. Concerned about preserving the animals and plants of the region, José Bernardes Santana maintains Atlantic Rain Forest reserves in his farm, and invests in reforestation with native species. Nursery trees are provided by the Instituto Estadual de Florestas [Forestry State Institute], an entity of the State of Minas Gerais government.
Planting and harvesting are performed manually in order to generate more jobs in the region. The farm has thirty permanent employees, and at harvesting time it has up to 110 between permanent and temporary employees, all registered according to Brazilian labor laws. Employees receive all the assistance they require to have a worthy life. Another issue that is dealt with with strictness is child labor; children and adolescents are not hired by Fazenda Pedra Redonda until they reach the age in which they can start to work, according to the Brazilian "Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente" ["Child and Adolescent Statute"].
Coffee processing system
After the coffee is picked, it is washed and subsequently passes through the pulper. The water used during this processing phase is totally recycled, using several decantation tanks. Fish farming in 50% of those tanks, evidences for inspection agencies that the coffee processing method used at the farm does not pollute the environment.
In sequence, the beans are transferred to be dried on cement terraces, where they are separated according to their quality. Handling at this stage receives special attention to preserve bean quality and characteristics. After the quality selection - with beans going through a gravel collector, screens and electronic bean selector - the lots are stored and classified separately.
Concern with quality
Quality is a constant concern in Fazenda Pedra Redonda, from planting to harvesting and processing until coffee delivery. In 2004 twenty cottages will be built in the property for it to have the required infrastructure to receive Brazilian and foreign visitors, interested in specialty coffees production and commercialization, as well as to received professionals accredited to promote courses on specialty coffees production.
José Bernardes Santana intends to use the same structure to host clients from abroad. Santana is a member of the Associação dos Produtores de Cafés Especiais de Araponga [Association of Specialty Coffee Producers of Araponga].
|
