Colombia Los Naranjos

Teodolfo López, a native of Almaguer — a municipality in the agricultural department of Cauca, located in southwestern Colombia — grew up surrounded by the realities of rural life.

According to the United Nations, Cauca is one of the departments with the highest levels of illicit coca leaf cultivation. The coca leaf, used as the raw material for cocaine, has made Cauca one of the regions most deeply affected by the Colombian armed conflict. This conflict continues between government forces, who aim to eradicate illegal crops, and armed groups operating outside the law, who fight to control this lucrative, illegal trade.

At the same time, Cauca is home to the largest Indigenous population in Colombia. For many of these Indigenous communities, coca has cultural and spiritual significance — it’s used in ancestral remedies, traditional foods, and sacred rituals. Still, despite this deep-rooted tradition, coca cultivation remains illegal under Colombian law.

From a very young age, Teodolfo became familiar with farm work, as his parents were agricultural laborers on various farms across the region. Like in much of Cauca, the most common crop — because it brought in steady income — was coca. As a result, by the age of eight, Teodolfo already knew every step involved in its cultivation and processing.

“Those were difficult times. People lived in constant fear. When the guerrillas came, we would hide or run. They showed up often, calling on all the young people to join their ranks. The most attractive women would flaunt their weapons to try to get our attention — but we never wanted any part of it. We never felt obligated to join them. Even though they made promises, my parents always taught us to follow a different path.”

By 1998, Teodolfo — now a few years older and having started a family with his wife, Zoraida Gómez — had grown tired of the violence and uncertainty. He decided to move to the department of Huila, which at the time was known for its agricultural opportunities.

The change in lifestyle was immediate. Huila offered plenty of work, as the land there demanded a lot of labor. They found jobs quickly, secured a stable income, and were able to save enough to buy their first plot of land — a turning point that marked the beginning of their journey in the coffee world.

Little by little, the first harvests began at Finca Los Naranjos, located at 1,800 meters above sea level in the municipality of Salado Blanco. With the help of his wife and three children, Teodolfo started planting coffee, along with other crops for the family’s own consumption. However, it was the coffee that brought in the most income, and as a result, they began planting more coffee varietals and paying greater attention to post-harvest processing.

Don Teodolfo notes that the farm’s processing methods have evolved gradually over time. In 2020, after connecting with Cata Export, he began to understand how fermentation and processing could transform his coffee. Although he doesn’t have access to advanced technology, he is eager to find practical solutions that allow him to ferment and produce specialty-grade coffees.