Story

John Jairo Trujillo, a coffee producer at Finca El Encanto in Tunja Grande, La Florida, Nariño, has been in the coffee industry for approximately twenty years, alongside his wife.

John’s journey with coffee began in his childhood, witnessing his grandparents’ manual coffee depulping process using stones before mechanical depulpers were available in the community. This memory stands out as particularly vivid, as he recalls how neighbors shared their small machines until eventually, every family could own one. This experience holds significant importance for him, as it reminds him of the origins of coffee production in their region.

Currently, John resides on the farm with his wife and son. His wife, who has dedicated many years to coffee nurseries, continues to manage seedlings, while their daughter, who studied computer science and now works in Valle del Cauca, returns during vacations to assist in coffee planting. John’s son is currently pursuing a marketing degree while also working. Despite his uncertainty about whether his children will follow in his footsteps in coffee, John believes they carry the passion for the industry within them.

When asked about his greatest accomplishment, John expresses pride in providing his children with an education, despite their humble beginnings and the challenges of poverty. Looking ahead, he and his wife envision establishing a small business outside coffee that can support them as they age and the physical demands of farm work become more demanding.