We provide low interest (1.5% – outside is more than 10%) to our small producer group and we went to visit Eutimio from Las Flores to see how he is utilizing the money.
Eutimio has been an exemplary producer to others. He has been getting loans from E-Cafe and investing the money into purchasing nearby land. So ever since he started working with us, his farms have been increasing in its size.
This time, we got to see his new farm and received the Eutimio’s first sample.
This year, we also started working with Leunides from Las Flores. 
After we discussed the plan for this year, we set off to Leunides’ farm. The slope is very slanted and even before we got to the farm, we got a pretty good workout.
We had to go through some other people’s property to get to his farm.
But the view on the way wasn’t so pleasing. The problem with a lot of producers is that they don’t want to invest anymore. They just want to get as much coffee from the existing trees.
Even if the trees are dying from roya, they want to keep them and get a few cherries. We know that roya affects weak and old trees but their focus is only on the immediate outcome. It is an entire cycle: roya affects the trees -> trees dying -> less cherry -> less profit -> less investment fund available -> no replacement of roya affected trees -> more trees affected by roya. It all comes down to money.
But thankfully our producers are different. They know that even if it takes 3 years to see the cherries, investing into new trees will yield long-term benefits.
Random farm on the way. No leaves. Only bare trees.
Still more bare trees on the way.
At first, we were worried that we were seeing these trees on the way.
But all of sudden, things took a radical turn. It was Leunides’ farm.
The leaves were all intact and it was the sight that we wanted to see. 
Leobardo used to work at a union as an inspector. After the union was disbanded due to its corruption, he started working with us. He is also Delmar’s cousin. He started filling out some forms for Cafe El Corazon de Los Morales. We are very glad that Leobardo is here and that we are able to work with small producer with a system.
Mexican Specialty Coffee Exporter and Producer