Introducing this month’s featured farmers: Luis, Andre and Silvia da Cunha

Bela Epoca Coffee Farm has been growing coffee for over 80 years, crossing three generations of coffee producers in the family. Andre da Cunha, his brother Luis and now sister Silvia, run the farm together. They are very proud to have had their father teach them, and they are already beginning to hand this knowledge and experience on to the ‘soon to be next generation of coffee growers’ in their family.

“What keeps us together is the passion for growing coffee, valuing each plot planted and…each raindrop given to us by nature.”

Farm: Fazenda Bela Epoca

Region: Alta Mogiana

State: São Paulo

Andre, Luis and Silvia believe it is very important to be with their family at the workplace “because if one of us is not at their best someone else will be. We support each other in decision-making and also during hard times. During good times it is easier.”

Located in the Alta Mogiana Region, São Paulo State, Bela Epoca Farm is situated in an ideal  micro-climate for coffee growing. Recent expansion of their coffee production has extended to areas reaching altitudes of 1300m.

Over the past 30 years, it has been a tradition at their farm to produce seedlings not only for planting but also for selling. “This is where it all starts, with plants growing and being distributed to other towns and even other states all around Brazil.”

Always finding ways to adapt the best sustainability practices into their productive processes, part of the farm is solely dedicated to growing organic coffee. The organic plot sits on a naturally shaded area. A delay in ripening is the result, which allows cherries to develop more sugars and flavours. The whole organic production is tracked and certified by IBD – Orgânico Brazil.

For more than 20 years, the da Cunha brothers have been working in alliance with the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) and Procafe Foundation to improve quality. This partnership resulted in experimental fields where coffee plants are analysed and selected based on productivity, uniform maturation, longevity and taste. All seeds and seedlings are produced in nurseries at the farm, assuring excellence is achieved in all stages.

“Agriculture, the Earth’s greatest work,”

Andre da Cunha