Guatemala El Regalito

Guatemala El Regalito

Finca Los Angeles is on the west side of the village of Hoja Blanca in Huehuetenango, Mexico almost visible down the valley to the northwest. Rising from 1525 to 1800 MASL, Arturo’s lots exist on two sides of a sheer ridgeline. Mature Chalum, Mandarín, and Capulin trees rise at angles, providing afternoon shade for the Bourbon, Caturra, and Maragogype plants below. Pure mountain spring water is used for processing their coffees.

The land is managed by Arturo’s son Vielmann Vides Villatoro Castillo, an enthusiastic farmer. For eleven years he lived in Los Angeles, and he loves to talk about his experience picking fruit there. The difference in agricultural pay affected him profoundly: he moved from California, where he’d been paid $40 per apple bin, back to Guatemala where they paid Q40 ($5) per 1 quintal (100 pounds) of coffee cherries. He decided after a decade it was time to return to Cuilco to be with his father, and to care for the farm. Soon after returning, Vielmann was married and bought more land to grow coffee. He built more drying patios and worker housing. Along with his wife and three siblings, the family looks forward to leaving the land and legacy to their beloved children to continue.