Costa Rica, 1lb

Hacienda la Amistad, situated in Coto Brus within the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica, is managed by Roberto Montero, a third-generation coffee farmer. Roberto's grandfather arrived in the region in the early 1900s as part of a surveying team for the border between Costa Rica and the newly established Panama. He later acquired over 10,000 hectares of land to cultivate coffee. Roberto's family has returned more than 6,000 hectares to the Costa Rican government for the protection of La Amistad International Park, which is the largest natural reserve in Central America. Only 300 hectares are used for coffee production, while the remaining 4,000 hectares consist of preserved forest rich in wildlife. Roberto's dedication to organic farming aligns closely with his commitment to his community. During the coffee harvest season, he offers housing and free medical care to seasonal workers, most of whom are indigenous people from Panama who come with their families. Additionally, Roberto takes pride in providing over 100 full-time jobs for his neighbors in Las Mellizas, not only in coffee farming but also in his year-round dried fruit operation at La Amistad. He holds an annual celebration to honor his employees' hard work and distributes school supplies to their children before each school year begins.