Cosecha

On one of my numerous visits to Hacienda Buena Vista, situated near Quimbaya at the border of the Quindio and Valle de Cauca departments, I rose early one morning before dawn to capture photographs of the orange harvest. This task is quite challenging for the day laborers involved. I was taken aback to learn that one of the workers held a university degree, sharing with me his struggles to find employment and how the orange harvest offers decent pay. The work commenced just before sunrise and concluded well before noon due to the increasing temperatures.

The "Eje cafetero" is among the most stunning and enjoyable locations in Colombia. 

The Coffee Axis is a region in Colombia characterized by its geographic, cultural, economic, and ecological significance. It encompasses the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío, along with parts of northwestern Tolima, northern and eastern Valle del Cauca, and southwestern Antioquia. This area includes the capital cities of the aforementioned departments.

The production of high-quality coffee is influenced by weather conditions ranging from 8 °C to 24 °C, as well as the geographical characteristics of the Andean Rainforest and the geological region. Farmers in this area have cultivated methods for growing, harvesting, and processing coffee beans individually, maintaining this meticulous approach to processing even in the face of modern mass agricultural industrialization techniques.

Photos: Fuji XT2