#Story21: Fernanda
We are used to drinking coffee without imagining the story behind the coffee. I mean, we probably know about the beans, the roasting, the different ways of preparing a good cofee.
On our automatic machines, we open a compartment, insert a capsule, push a button, and in a few seconds, black coffee pours into our mag. Moka is similar, just a little bit longer.
When I traveled to Guatemala last August, I had the opportunity to visit a coffee plant and factory.
Ricardo, our guide, told us about the local community involved in coffee plants in the region.
Ricardo, my guide in the coffee plant
I imagined one of these stories.
The coffee of the land of the Maya
The sun beat strong on Fernanda's back, as it climbed through coffee plants. She was working for hours. Her hands burned, but she couldn't stop. Her family depended on her work, and she was determined to do her best.
Fernanda was born in a small Mayan community in the Ixil region of Guatemala. Her family has always dedicated herself to the cultivation of coffee. Her parents taught her everything there was to know about the plantation, and she had become one of the best harvesters in the village.
Working in a coffee plantation is complex and tiring. The days are long and the weather conditions are often difficult. But María was used to this. She was born in this world.
That day, Fernanda was picking up the coffee berries that were ripe. She detached them gently, paying attention not to spoil them. Then, she put them in a wicker basket that carried on his shoulders.
When the basket was full, Fernanda took it to the center of the plantation, where she dumped him into a large sack. Then she did it again and again until her job was over.
In the meantime, at the farm everything was ready to continue the process of ensuring coffee can be prepared for packaging and distribution. It is a long process. Patience is key. Coffee needs time.
Working in a coffee plantation is also a way to stay in contact with nature. Fernanda loved the silence of mature, the view of the vulcanos, and the sound of birds singing among the trees.
Antigua Guatemala, August 2023
She knew it was time to return home when the sun began to set. She was tired, but satisfied with her work. She helped to gather a large crop, which would feed his family and other farmers.
Fernanda was proud to be a peasant in Guatemala. She knew that the coffee she collected was appreciated all over the world, and that it helped to support the economy of his country.
Climate change
In recent years, however, Fernanda’s work had become increasingly difficult. Climate change was making climate conditions more extreme, with heavier rainfall and longer drought periods.
These changes had a negative impact on coffee production. Plants were more susceptible to diseases and pests, and the crop was often lower than expectations.
Fernanda was concerned about the future of her family. She knew that climate change was putting their livelihood at risk.
Coffe plant, Cofino, Antigua Guatemala
A new hope
One day, Fernanda participated in a workshop organized by a non-governmental organization working to help small coffee producers. At the workshop, she learned how to adapt her agricultural practices to climate change.
Fernanda began planting new varieties of coffee that were more resistant to diseases and parasites. She also started using more efficient irrigation techniques to reduce the impact of drought.
Thanks to this new knowledge, she was able to improve the production of her coffee, making it of a high quality.
Fernanda was happy to help protect the environment and ensure a better future for her family.
This story is a story of hope. It is the story of a woman who, despite difficulties, has never given up her dreams.
Fernanda’s experience is also a story of change, of a woman who has learned to adapt to climate change, to ensure a better future for herself and her family.
Muchas gracias Ricardo.
You helped me increase my awareness of what is behind my daily coffee. How many ‘Fernanda’ work in difficult conditions, waking up early morning to be at the plant a collect and transport beans?
I will care more about my morning coffee now.
