OUR STORY
Since 2012, Osmin and his team have been clearing, developing and improving the coffee plantation and its facilities. With all the work done to-date to clear, clean up and prepare the soil for growing coffee, the farmable area will continue to be expanded in the years to come
OUR HISTORY
Osmin is the son of generations of coffee producers in El Salvador. He grew up and worked in the Salvadorian coffee industry until he arrived in Canada in 1987. Here, he settled down and built a life in keeping with Canadian values: he started a family, developed his masonry business in the Montreal area and may very well have crossed paths with you in your day-to-day activities.
But his dream was to pass down his origins to the next generation. In 2013, he bought land in Nicaragua to allow him to rebuild a coffee plantation in keeping with his knowledge and values. Because he works as a mason during the construction season, he trained his sister and delegated oversight of his plantation to her, and today, she is one of the rare women to administer a coffee plantation. A family history carries on.
OUR VALUES
Environment
Like our customers, we are committed to protecting the environment from the impacts of our actions and our consumption.
However, the coffee industry is not carbon neutral and won’t be for a while because Canada does not produce coffee beans and must import them. And we cannot yet charter a sailboat for our deliveries… On the other hand, where we can, we try to be environmentally conscious. For example, we recuperate jute bags for reuse, coffee grounds for composting, ensure that packaging is compostable, that the production of coffee in the plantation is equitable and respectful of the soil, the banks, the seedlings, and berries. We pay as much attention to the environment as we do to people. Fincafé can play a role at this level, and it is a priority for us to find ever more coherent and impact-conscious alternatives.
Sustainability of coffee varieties
We are conscious of the fact that the fruits of the earth bear the future of our children and that we must respect our primary resource and its soil.
For this reason, Finca Renacer grows different varieties of coffee on its land. The original coffee varieties (those represented in the coffee family tree) may be genetically pure and highly sought after by purists, but in all their original authenticity they are in danger of disappearing in the short term due to climate change and endemic diseases affecting intensive plantations. The hybrid varieties, on the other hand, developed to offer better resistance to diseases and nematodes, have better productivity and preserve the biodiversity of coffees. That is why Finca Renacer combines different coffee varieties to ensure the sustainability of the plantation and maintain a healthy and sustainable future for the microlots.
Traceability
The quality of our coffee also depends on the traceability of the varieties grown in the microlots and care adapted to the needs of these plant varieties and their soil, which takes into account the altitude and micro-climate of the production site.
The drying and fermentation processes that occur following the picking also accentuate certain characteristics and are chosen according to the facilities of the producer and the “beneficio” (processing center). The methods may include natural, washed, honey, or anaerobic honey. The roasting step, in turn, accentuates certain aromas and attributes at the discretion of the artisan roaster. FINCAFÉ rigorously notes the origin of each microlot, from its processing to its movements, to confirm all the factors influencing its production.
The combination of all these factors generates exclusive coffees, distinct from one microlot to another, and integrated with a precise management of their traceability. Thus, Fincafé can guarantee the authenticity of the varieties produced by Finca Renacer and the lack of mixed beans and batches. This is how FINCAFÉ supplies varieties such as Caturra, Paraïnema, Maragogype, and all the others. Thus, you will not buy Nicaragua at Fincafé but rather, Caturra, Paraïnema, Catimor, and other sorted varieties. Geographical designations do not appear in the coffee variety tree, which is our reference…
Equitability
The fairness of our trade and our willingness to take care of those who take care of your coffee are important values for Fincafé.
FINCA RENACER seeks a balance between the cost of harvesting (from the ground to the cup) and the growing site, the characteristics of the variety, and the production methods, while using high-quality maintenance products that present the fewest negative impacts possible. This balance has been difficult to achieve since they have tripled in cost, as have sea and road transport costs which have more than tripled in the pandemic, but this balance is maintained thanks to direct trade between Osmin (the producer) and customers (roaster customers and FINCAFÉ customers). We believe that transparency about cost factors is a starting point for discussing equitability and direct trading.
However, people are also at the heart of our concern with equitability. Therefore, the salary scale is the same for men and women, and social benefits include advancement according to seniority and performance. There are three meals a day, contributions to school fees, medical care, and accommodation as needed, in addition to the benefits and standards established by national laws. We contribute to supplying the local school and providing financial support to employees seeking advancement. Our first example of this was Reina, the steward of FINCA RENACER. A nurse by profession, she agreed to study to become an engineer in agronomy, supported by income from Finca. In 2021, Elvin Andino Godinez, an employee, accepted this offer and also pursued studies in agronomy… thereby advancing from the position of planter to junior foreman. Given these successes, we are considering the idea of establishing a scholarship system for committed employees.
PRICE
Would you like for the price of your coffee to go directly to the plantation that produces it for you?
You should know that despite consumer goodwill and the convincing messages of the industry, an average of only 10% of the price paid per pound will go to the producer. The price of coffee paid to the producer is generally established according to the stock market price with or without a premium, depending on the year, the quality, and the wholesaler. Since the onset of the pandemic and the disruption and resumption of global goods production chains, the cost of shipping has skyrocketed. Environmental conditions aggravated by climate change have also had a major impact on coffee production. These factors are essential for you to have your brew. On the other hand, with Fincafé, a greater proportion of your purchase goes to the plantation and the installations on site, as the producer of Finca Renacer is also a partner of Fincafé. La Finca Renacer and Fincafé: the two arms that serve your cup.
Où va cet argent ?
OUR VISION
The values expressed here are the soul of Fincafé and Finca Renacer. As we are at our best when we have a positive impact on our surroundings, in whatever form, Finca Renacer and Fincafé are two arms of the same mission: to ensure the quality and traceability of our beans, to aim for quality in everything, and to maintain the sustainability of the plantation while respecting our people, so that our coffee is at the heart of our legacy.