RICARDO TORRES - COLOMBIA

We’re proud to introduce you to Ricardo Torres, a lifelong coffee farmer from La Mesa in the Cundinamarca region of Colombia. His farm, Buenos Aires, sits at 1600 meters above sea level and has been in his family for over 60 years. Ricardo inherited the land decades ago and, for the last 30 years, has devoted himself fully to cultivating coffee. Today, nearly 5,000 Castillo variety trees flourish on just one hectare of land, tended to with care by Ricardo and his brother. Their deep-rooted commitment to farming keeps their family’s legacy alive through every harvest. Like many small-scale farmers, Ricardo once sold his coffee through the National Federation of Coffee Growers in Colombia, navigating the challenges of processing and cost on his own. But a new opportunity arose through La Palma y El Tucán, offering a more collaborative model. Ricardo continues the hard work of producing high-quality coffee while striving for better recognition and pricing. The work isn’t easy—but for Ricardo, coffee has always been more than a crop and he wouldn't trade his chosen profession for anything else in the world. Ricardo’s farm is also part of the Biodiversal program, a regenerative agriculture initiative that aims to increase ecological resilience and economic sustainability for farmers in Latin America. The chief aim of Biodiversal is to help farmers increase the biodiversity on their farms through education and other initiatives. In addition to coffee, Ricardo grows plantains and other fruit trees on his land, alongside raising cattle, helping to diversify both diet and income for the household. These practices reflect Ricardo’s deep connection to the land and a broader vision for a self-sustaining, regenerative future. We’re honored to share Ricardo’s coffee with you—a vibrant expression of heritage, perseverance, and the enduring beauty of Colombian terroir.