Farmshare in Finca La Fortaleza

By Janeé Hartman

When OBIIS is considering new Farm-Direct prospects, we bring at least one of our coffee-producing partners with us to visit the farm. After forming a partnership, Farmshare continues by collaborating with boots-on-the-ground and hands-in-the-soil.  This past June, while in Mozambique, I was able to watch firsthand as two producers from farms over 15,000 miles apart connected, collaborated, and problem-solved. Throughout this process, they both realized how much their farms had in common despite the distance between them.

Maria Esther and I on the charter flight to Gorongosa

My trip to Chiapas, Mexico, surprisingly began in Mozambique, Africa. This past June, while traveling to Mozambique with OBIIS, I met Maria Esther Saut of COFINCAF  (La Fortaleza, Chiapas, Mexico). There was something about Maria Esther that drew me in right away. She instantly put me at ease with her warm smile and calm, reassuring voice. My eyes sought her out during our flights, finding comfort in her presence as flying has always been a challenge for me.  On our final flight to Gorongosa National Park, I wanted to be close to her.  This was my first time on a small charter plane, and I knew to expect to feel the wind more than usual. Maria Esther hopped into the seat next to me, buckled her seat belt, then wrapped her arm around mine and said, “You are going to be fine, my dear,” as if she knew it for a fact. I looked behind us at Bob, Michelle, & Michie dos (Michelle Shaw) for a glimpse of home, and then we were off.  Thirty minutes later, we touched down in Gorongosa National Park. I was fine, just like Maria Esther had said, and for the first time, I was about to learn what OBIIS Farmshare was all about.

Gary Dodd and Maria Esther in the Gorongosa National Park.

During our stay, the OBIIS team and Maria Esther formed a friendship with Gary Dodd, the manager of the Coffee Project at Gorongosa National Park, and one of OBIIS’s newer partners. This was Maria Esther’s first time in Gorongosa, and she was surprised by how many similarities she found between her own farm and the Coffee Project. Gary was impressed by Maria Esther’s knowledge and enjoyed learning about what she and her husband, Pascual Castillo, had accomplished on their farm. Gary was eager to learn more about sustainability, pest control, and their experience as OBIIS partners and expressed his desire to visit La Fortaleza to see it firsthand. This was the perfect opportunity for another Farmshare experience.  

A few months later, I was off to Chiapas with Gary to meet our gracious hosts, Pascual Castillo and Maria Esther Saut, at Finca La Fortaleza. During our visit, we walked through the beautiful fields with the COFINCAF Agricultural Management team, discussing the importance of shade coverage and natural pest control. We explored the nursery while exploring  COFINCAF’s preferred techniques for germination and crop establishment. We toured the facilities at Beneficios Los Molinos, which houses the density sorting machines, color separation systems, as well as wet and dry mills. We had full access to Finca La Fortaleza and the expertise of the COFINCAF team, Pascual Castillo and Maria Esther Saut . 

The COFINCAF Sustainability Team

Pascual and Maria Esther made sure that we experience as much as possible during our short visit and so they arranged for our journey to continue to Majasil, where we met Miguel Méndez on his coffee plantation, and in Poblado Crucero San Antonio, Chilón, where the COFINCAF’s Sustainability team introduced us to a community of 7 families that they have been working closely with and their recent achievements since partnering together. This moment stood out to me for two reasons. The first was because of Maria Esther. It seems that no matter how slippery or rocky the landscape, she always has a confident stride. She has a warmness that draws you in and a presence that demands your attention in a welcoming manner. She led the large gathering and silenced the group with minimal effort. She doesn’t need to yell. When she speaks, people want to listen. She leads with love but in a manner that doesn’t diminish her knowledge or authority. 

The other reason Poblado Crucero San Antonio, Chilón stuck with me was because of the way the COFINCAF’s Sustainability team showed their leadership style. Most people know me as a photographer, but once upon a time, I was a special education teacher running a classroom with five paraprofessionals (teacher assistants) around the same age as, or older than, my parents. This put me in a unique leadership opportunity that required me to lead with grace, humility, and understanding, with a foundation built on rapport.  I saw this same leadership style in the sustainability team when working with their local producers.  Some of the new producers were willing to accept COFINCAF ideas and ideologies right away, whereas some of the older producers needed to build trust before taking suggestions. This required time and consistency, and the team was willing to put in the work. Maria Esther and Pascual Castillo model the leadership and care they want to see from others.  While I might still be getting the hang of selective pruning, I know good leadership, and I know it clearly comes from Maria Esther and Pascual modeling the behavior their team shows out in the field. 

Gary Dodd in the nursery at Finca la Fortaleza

I had so many magical moments at La Fortaleza. Early mornings watching the clouds rolling by with Gary, watching Maria Esther interact with the children of the small producers, and singing with Pascual in the front seat while we drove down the mountain. I feel more confident in my coffee knowledge after my time at Finca La Fortaleza. The COFINCAF team ensured that all of our questions were thoroughly answered with examples for each explanation. They answered all of Gary’s specific questions and made sure that I felt like an active participant in all conversations. I knew in the moment that I was witnessing something truly special. Collaboration without ego or expectation for the greater good of others. I would like to thank Pascual Castillo, Maria Esther Saut, and their incredible staff at COFINCAF and La Fortaleza for their kindness and willingness to teach me more about the world of coffee, as well as Bob and Michelle Fish for allowing me to have this wonderful experience.