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Fazenda Boa Vista do Bebedouro was acquired in 1956 by Suelly Evandro Amarante, who has also been a producer in Poços de Caldas since 1954, and has an excellent track record in coffee growing activities, such as founding Cooperativa Regional dos Cafeicultores de Poços de Caldas [Coffee Growers Regional Cooperative of Poços de Caldas], which he chaired for approximately 22 years, and as Chairman of the Conselho Nacional do Café [National Coffee Council]. The farm was leased to his son, the mechanical engineer Francisco de Assis Junqueira Amarante, who is also the general manager of all the farms owned by his father.
The property is located in the Municipality of Guaranésia, State of Minas Gerais, and at a 5-km distance from the city of Poços de Caldas and 10 km from Guaxupé. The topography is slightly undulated to mountainous, with deep and fertile soil of the latosol type (dark red). Water resources are abundant, with many sources and springs and a main creek that crosses the whole property, the Ribeirão Bebedouro. Coffee plantations are in areas at an altitude from 775m to 900m.
Environmental control has always been a priority, even in the past decades when its importance had not been totally perceived; important issues are constantly monitored, such as erosion control, correct collection and disposal of agricultural products packaging, and not using fire to clear the ground.
Social matters are treated with priority by the property’s management; employees are registered according to Brazilian employment and labor laws, no child labor is admitted, the use of safety equipment is mandatory; and hygiene and occupational health conditions are followed, etc.
Coffee processing system
The property has two coffee terraces, partly covered with bricks, partly cemented, with a total area of approximately 3,300 m2, and a coffee processing unit with washer, cherry pulper, impurities collector, drier and four wooden bins for the dried coffees.
The above-mentioned coffee lot – all in cherry beans - was picked on cloth in the beginning of June, was pulped and dried on the terraces and later in a drier.
Concern with quality
The property is located in a traditional high quality coffee region of South Minas Gerais and has always produced fine coffees, although not registered for competitions in recent years.
Suelly Evandro Amarante is a member of Cooxupé - Cooperativa Regional dos Cafeicultores em Guaxupé Ltda. [Regional Coffee Growers Cooperative in Guaxupe]; his property is constantly supervised by agronomist and he always use leading edge technology, from soil analyses and fertilizers to raw materials and inputs.
He intends to hire a specialized consulting firm to evaluate the cost, conditions and adaptations required to have his property certified by coffee certifying associations.
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