Producer: CafExporto
Farm: Various Smallholders
Region: Chito, Zamora Chinchipe
Altitude: 1,543 masl | 5,062 feet
Varietals: Sarchimor, Caturra, SL 28, Catimor, Castillo
Process: Washed
Roast: Light
Notes: Snickerdoodle, Plum, Candied Almond

This community lot is the result of a collaboration between smallholder farmers in Zamora Chinchipe province and CafExporto, the milling and exporting arm of Juan Peña's Hacienda La Papaya.

"Cosmel Merino represents the community of coffee producers in Chito, Zamora Chinchipe, which is located in southeast Ecuador, adjacent to the Peruvian border. The family farms in this area average four acres.

"Currently there are 55 coffee producers in the community, most of whom are very poor and live off the land they cultivate. To date, they have not had a responsive market for their coffee, which has been sold only in Ecuador’s national market. This is one of several communities that CafExporto 'found' during the 2021 harvest.

"CafExporto is making an investment in these communities, which have the potential to produce excellent coffee, by donating seeds of new varieties (Typica mejorada and Sidra) and introducing better fertilization and growing practices.

"Chito is a highly productive zone with a long history of coffee farming. This sector produces approximately 1.5 million pounds of coffee a year. Due to the favorable climate, Chito expects to produce high quantities of specialty coffee in the future and to use CafExporto to help establish an international market."