Colombia Jhon Wilson Proveda
Colombia is one of the most exciting countries of origin for us because of the huge array of micro-climates, wide array of elevation, and various processing practices that all contribute to extremely unique and excitingly nuanced tasting coffees. Jhon Wilson is just that, extremely complex, pleasantly vibrant, and deliciously smooth… it seems to be one of our overall favorites alr
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Jhon Wilson Poveda has been part of the specialty market since 2015, when he first began selling his coffee to Fairfield Trading.
“I knew of the CCS Acevedo Cup,” he said, after the inaugural event in 2016 “but I hesitated to enter and I didn’t imagine I could win, because I thought that my fermentation and drying facilities were not processing the coffee well.”
Jhon Wilson inherited part of his farm, called “Danny” in La Marimba, which has been in his family for 70 years. Jhon Wilson took over the farm in 1998, and decided to buy another lot of land to increase production. Unfortunately that meant he didn’t have the funds to expand his fermentation facilities or improve his drying beds. Then he experienced another challenge in 2016 when he also couldn’t find enough labour to pick his cherries fast enough, a common and serious problem in the region.
Jhon Wilson sought advice from Ciro Lugo, an experienced farmer who has helped many in the region enter the specialty market. With Don Ciro’s help, and encouragement from Eduardo Urquina of Fairfield Trading, Jhon Wilson entered a small lot in the first CCS Acevedo Cup in 2016 and won 10th place. Using the extra premiums earned on that coffee, Jhon invested in improving his fermentation and drying facilities, as well as upgrading his home and installing a tiled floor to improve life for his family.
In 2018 Jhon Wilson entered more lots in the CCS Acevedo Cup, and picked up 6th and 7th place!
Jhon Wilson attributes much of the quality of his coffee to the forest reserve on his ad the neighboring property, which is also where he draws the water to irrigate his farm.
Jhon Wilson is very proud to be a coffee producer, and to continue the tradition of his family. Producing specialty coffee has allowed him to improve his family’s quality of life, while also farming in a more sustainable way.
Why do you produce coffee?
In this region we don’t get a lot of formal education. However we do learn how to cultivate coffee from our parents. It is what we know. We are also lucky to have a great altitude and micro climate here in the south of Huila which helps us produce excellent coffee.
What are the greatest challenges you face?
The cost of inputs is constantly increasing, and so is the cost of living, but the price we are paid for coffee doesn’t increase accordingly.
What are your ambitions for the future?
To win the CCS Acevedo Cup and improve my home.
