Finca Balvanera

It has been a fast and steep learning curve for Magaly Yepes, the new owner of Balvanera. Magaly has worked in finance for many years but when her parents José Yepes and Aida Rosa Trejos (Villa Rosa) needed help at the farm due to José’s illness Magaly relocated from Bogotá to assist with the day-to-day work and administration of Balvanera. Sadly, José died in 2020 and now Magaly is continuing with the farm and the legacy of her father. José Yepes grew coffee at Balvanera for 46 years. With the support of an agronomist, Magaly has started mapping the farm by identifying plot size, varietals planted, and age of trees. Magaly and the agronomist have created a programme for fertilization and renovation by identifying which areas of the farm require more attention, which are more productive, and which areas of the farm produce the better cup. Magaly is working on the basis that the more she knows the farm the better she can assist it. This year Magaly has been able to improve the washing station and the drying patios to achieve a higher consistency in these two key processes. Another big project for Magaly has been the implementation of her first coffee seedling bank. She has started to plant out these seedlings where old trees need to be replaced.