Moises chaguala recovery

Moises Chaguala is a producer who is very dear to our hearts. For the past five years, we have worked closely with Moises, an incredibly passionate coffee farmer in the Southern Colombian region of Acevedo, Huila. Working with Moises has allowed us to see first-hand the incredible challenges farmers face throughout the year to produce high-quality specialty coffee. The challenges are endless, whether it be an ever-changing climate, pest invasion or fluctuating coffee prices. In late 2023, at the end of harvest, Moises began noticing that some new growth on his Aji and Gesha varietals had black spots that appeared burnt. In less than a week, almost all trees were affected. Unsure what the cause of this outbreak was and fearful of further spread to his nearby Pink bourbon, Moises made the difficult decision to cut down all 4 hectares of Aji and Gesha. He later discovered that the damage was caused by a native insect called Chamusquina. Traditionally, the Chamusquina has attacked native Colombian plant species, such as Cacao and Guava, but in recent years, it has taken a liking to coffee.

The Chamusquina attacks young leaf growth, sucking the sugary sap and leaving burn marks; in as little as one night, a single Chamusquina can destroy all new growth on a coffee tree.

The Damage caused by the Chamusquina has essentially wiped out half of Moises's farm, cutting his production in half for the next two years. We are determined to help Moises recover from this devastating outbreak and have decided to donate all profit from his coffee to facilitate the purchase of new seeds and planting and provide ongoing financial support for Moises and his family as they start the long road to recovery.