Strawberry

Nariño is the southern coffee-producing department in Colombia, right on the border with Ecuador. There are nearly 14,000 producers on more than 38,000 hectares. The average size of each plantation is 2.7 hectares per family and this represents only 4% of Colombian coffee production. However, it is one of the most famous and awarded coffee in the country. Quality, climate, profile of the cup and organoleptic complexity are surely the answers! This region is also known for its production of potatoes, onions, wheat, cattle and milk. Nevertheless, we can observe a strong dependence of family income on coffee growing. Usually, Nariño coffees are well paid due to the high demand from international roasters and its high quality. The incomes are rather good for the families and many of them diversify their agricultural productions. The small size of their farms allows them to easily reduce production costs to get a good profit per harvest season. There is a strong regional cultural affiliation among the inhabitants of Nariño. Music and food are very different from the rest of the country. Their influence comes from the indigenous culture of the southern Andes and this incredible cultural richness offers religious and traditional festivals full of colors, soft sounds of Andean flutes and rare musical instruments. 

The department of Nariño is located in southwest Colombia, between the Pacific Ocean and the Amazonian forest. Its geography is quite unique, with a relief marked by Nudo de los Pastos, which is where the Andes cordillera divides into three mountain ranges.

Some of Colombia’s highest-altitude coffees come from this Nariño region. They are also some of the most complex and impressive. In many regions, producing coffee at such a high altitude is a challenge, but Nariño is quite close to the equator, and its climatic conditions are sufficiently suited to the cultivation of coffee trees.

The region’s landscapes are breathtaking. Coffee is able to grow at more extreme altitudes of 2,200 meters, and 36,159 hectares of land are dedicated to coffee production in this area. It is the main source of revenue for the farmers in the region, who produce coffee for export. Coffee cultivation in Nariño is characterized by the predominance of the Caturra and Castillo varieties under shade. Most coffee is grown on small farms or smallholdings.