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Bird Friendly Guatemala
Baltimore Orioles got their name from their bold orange-and-black plumage: they sport the same colors as the heraldic crest of England’s Baltimore family (who also gave their name to Maryland’s largest city).
REGION
Atitlán; area of San Miguel Pochuta, Chimaltenango
PROCESSING
ELEVATION
1,100 - 1,600 masl
PRODUCER
Finca Ceylan y Anexos
Farm History:
Since 1870, Finca Ceylan y Anexos has been owned and operated by the Echeverria family, specializing in coffee production and processing. Originally named Finca Ceylan y Colima, the farm expanded over time to include neighboring properties, leading to its current name, "y Anexos," which reflects its growth and annexation of other lands.
Social Projects:
While coffee has always been the primary crop, for nearly 70 years, the farm also cultivated sugar cane to produce panela—a traditional, unrefined brown sugar. Unfortunately, severe flooding damaged the sugar mill and machinery, ending panela production. Bananas were initially introduced to provide shade for the coffee plants but have since become a valuable secondary crop, contributing an additional source of income for the farm. The farm prioritizes local employment, mainly hiring local labor, providing jobs, and supporting the surrounding community. Finca Ceylan has contributed houses, drinkable water, and education to its employees and their children. Employees also benefit from the alternate crops grown.
Environmental Projects & Water Management:
Finca Ceylan maintains the river basin and the natural vegetation that grows nearby. The farm also has various water sources that are protected. Hunting and fishing are prohibited to conserve the natural flora and fauna.
The coffee residues from the wet mill are used as an organic fertilizer in the coffee nursery and the coffee plantation, creating a self-sufficient system. The water in the wet mill process is filtered through oxidation tanks to avoid contamination in the river basins. They also have a natural forest that is protected to conserve the ecosystem of the different species of trees, plants, and animals.
