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Fazenda Águas da Prata was acquired slowly, from 1987 onwards. In addition to coffee plantation, which is its main activity, Nelore PO cattle is raised at the farm to take advantage of the lands where coffee plantation is not feasible because of low altitudes or proximity to water sources, creeks and ciliary woods.
The region has an appropriate climate for coffee plantations, and good altitude. The soil is of the yellow latosol type of the sandy phase. The coffee varieties grown at the farm are: Mundo Novo, Catuaí, Catucai, Tupi and Obatã. The farm has not undergone the certification and traceability processes yet.
Weed handling is made using clearing equipment and weeding. Concern with the environment an its conservation, as well as with the social conditions of its workers, are marked characteristics of the farm's management, under the responsibility of Mr. Hermes Balena since October 2003.
Coffee processing system
Coffee is picked manually, and immediately after the beans are washed and separated into cherry beans, boia beans and green beans. The cherry beans are pulped and their mucilage is removed.
Subsequently, the beans are pre-dried on a cemented terrace. In the following phase, the beans are transferred to a drier, with indirect wood fire. The coffee is stored in wooden bins during at least 15 days, when the coffee will be ready to be processed.
Concern with quality
To produce quality coffees, several mechanisms are used, from the special care with the certified nursery trees, balanced fertilization, to variety and appropriate handling of the harvesting phase.
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