88.65

Farm:               Miralvalle
Farmer:            Jorge Heberto Villatoro Gomez

Benjamin Heberto Villatoro C.  better known to his friends as "don Mincho" was born in Huehuetenango in a humble and large family, where since childhood contributed to the household, while attending school, where he came to attend the 6th primary, however, he found in vehicles and  mechanics his first love, and struggled to learn the craft, being a teenager saw an opportunity with some of his brothers to work in American companies that built the Interamerican Highway, reaching be truck fleet manager and his brother Roberto, leader of workshops.

During those years he met his mentor and boss, who introduced to the world of coffee, Don José Olivio Chavez, who he went to work with for quite some time as a driver and mechanic, taking with him many experiences that helped to form himself, according to his own words, always remembered to visit the tomb of Don Olivio to thank his teachings.

On those years working with Don Olivio Chavez was part of the creation of Huixoc farm and many others in San Pedro Necta, being interested in the cultivation of coffee and deciding to buy land with a beautiful view to La Democracia and Mexico to which he gave the name of MIRALVALLE FARM.

Because of his working status, by strong efforts he could plant on this first ground, where he recalls his first harvest was "a bag of tortrix" which he kept for long time on his truck, as sure sign that "who can’t see small can’t see big"

Throughout the time Miralvalle was formed by different properties that have formed each of the annexes that currently owns, being these:   La Garita, La Joya y Agua Dulce.

In September 2003, Don Mincho, named me formally in charge of Miralvalle farm, and before his death in 2012 he decides to sell me the property in a symbolically way, reason why it is now in charge of my family. Where we continue with the tradition of working and maintenance of the property, making several participations in international competitions, which have offered the farm recognition for the quality of its cup. Being a high-demand product, the stocks of the farm are limited and sell out every year with clients from countries like KOREA, JAPAN, USA, HOLLAND, AUSTRALIA, and EUROPE.

The domestic market has been driven from the roaster Kaffa in Guatemala , which is the processing of coffee, where the coffee is produced domestically, taking care to maintain the quality of the cup. But always the product runs out, so each year we are looking for ways to optimize our production in order to supply to all our customers without sacrificing the quality of “a cup of Miralvalle coffee”.

Geographic Characteristics

• • Location:                      San Pedro Necta, Huehuetenango
  • Altitude Range:            4, 500 – 6, 200 feet (1, 400 – 1, 900 meters)
    

• Climatic Characteristics
  • Average Temperature:  18 to 20° C
  • Annual Rainfall:           2,300 mm
  • Relative Humidity:        75%
  • Microclimate:               Cloud forest

• Coffee Production Characteristics
  • Harvest Season:           From February to April
  • Varieties:                      Caturra and Bourbón
  • Drying Process:           Sun
  • Mill:                             Wet
  • Annual Production:      260 bags (69 kg bags)

• Previous Awards
  • Certifications:              
    • Private Nature Reserve – Association of Private Nature Reserves of Guatemala
  • Cup of Excellence:       
    • Cup of Excellence® 2004 – 1^st Place
    • Cup of Excellence® 2013 – 5^th Place
    • Cup of Excellence® 2014 – 21^st Place

• • Cupping Pavilion SCAA USA 2005 – 12^th Place
  • Regional Cup Huehuetenango – 2^nd Place

Interesting Facts

• Thanks to the online auction system, Miralvalle farm has reached a good level of competition, having permanence in these competencies, assessing the quality of our grain.

• In 2014, Miralvalle farm, was selected as one of the representative farms of Huehuetenango, thanks to its quality ANACAFE includes it as one of the suppliers farms of their coffee High LandHuehue ®, being representative of our departmental fairs through this special segment coffees.

• The farm is a private nature reserve, has a specific area designated as forest, where hunting ban which serves as a refuge for native species of the region is maintained.

• The farm has several surprising gazebos where you can see all the coffee area even a part of Mexico .

• The cold caused by the height and local climate allows slow ripening which gives more structure to the formation of grains, giving greater sweetness to these.

• Complete tracking (traceability) is given to each of the items of coffee picking on the farm in order to monitor attributes or defects that may occur in the processing.

• Due to its height Miralvalle is the last farm in finishing its crop, because of its climate. So most of Huehuetenango's coffee has been cropped, when in our farm we are still starting to cut the grain.

Rank	4
Farm Name	Miralvalle (2015)
Farmer/Rep.	Jorge Heberto Villatoro Gómez
Country	Guatemala
Year	2015
Size (30kg boxes)	32
City	San Pedro Necta
Region	Huehuetenango
Program	Guatemala 2015
Month	-
Aroma/Flavor	Vanilla, peach
Acidity	Complex, apple, grape, bright
Other	Syrupy
Variety	Bourbón
Farm Size	-
Auction Lot Size (lbs.)	2093.27
High bid	11.90
Total value	24909.91
High bidders	UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd.