"When I was a young man, I worked for two years applying chemicals to plants on a farm. I was strong and a very hard worker and didn't realize the effect it would have on my body. Years later, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach and was rushed to the hospital. My intestines had burst and the doctor told me the chemicals I had been applying collected in my body and caused the rupture. I spent 15 days in the hospital with tubes down my nose and throat, and knew I would never again use any more pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides on my own farm. From that moment on, I made it my goal for the farm to be organic and now we have certifications for USDA Organic, Bird-Friendly, Eco-Friendly, Shade Grown, and we use OXO 100 % biodegradable plastic."
-Oldemar Salazar-Picado
Cafe La Bella Tica
From very humble beginnings, the Salazar-Picado family now produces some of the most popular coffee in the region.
In 1995, Oldemar Salazar-Picado, his wife, Ersy, and children, Gloriana and Manuel, moved from Lower San Luis to become the first parcelero family on the Finca La Bella community farm. Only 1,000 coffee plants existed on their land, and they planted 3,000 more to have a large enough quantity to sell to the Santa Elena Cooperative. In 2004, however, the Coop was experiencing financial difficulties and Oldemar could no longer sell them his coffee. Though the quality of life for Oldemar and his family had been steadily improving, they were now left without a source of income. This is when Oldemar decided to buy his own coffee peeling, toasting, and grinding machines to sell his own brand of coffee directly to consumers.
UGA is the primary buyer of Bella Tica coffee and Oldemar receives many Monteverde Institute and UGA students who take his tours and volunteer on the farm. The farm also hosts other volunteers from the U.S., China, Australia, and Jamaica who live in the newly-completed lodge next to the main house. Much of the work on the Bella Tica farm would not be possible without the help of volunteers. Oledmar fondly remembers one exchange student in particular named Erica Gringrich who stayed with the Salazar-Picado family in 1998.
At this time, Oldemar was
dreaming of acquiring a coffee toaster, but could not afford the $2,800 dollar machine. When Erica returned to her home in the United States, she asked her father to lend half of the money to Oldemar and gift the other half in order for him to purchase the toaster. This machine allowed Oldemar to speed up the production of his coffee and sell a larger quantity. Oldemar is still in awe of the generosity of students like Erica who not only help him improve his farm, but become life-long friends.