Panama - Jose Gonzales

In the Alto Jaramillo region of Panama, you'll find the farm of José Domingo González. José is not only the owner but also the manager and caretaker of the farm. For him, coffee represents more than just a crop; it's a legacy. He grew up surrounded by coffee fields, so coffee holds deep meaning in his life. 

The farm, which has been in his family for generations, was passed down to him as an inheritance. Once the coffee cherries are harvested, they are transported to the collection site. There, the Creativa Coffee District staff checks their quality before sending them to the mill. Although José works mostly alone, he hires 1 or 2 local people during the harvest season. Moreover, he prioritizes sustainable practices on the farm, such as manual weeding instead of using harmful herbicides. 

Even though José's family doesn't directly work on the farm, his decision to join the Creativa Coffee District project was based on the convenience of the collection in the area and the competitive prices they offer. Besides coffee, his farm also produces other crops like oranges and guineos (The guineo is a variety of banana traditional to Panama and Colombia, it is smaller than the common banana and is used in the local food of both countries).