El Paraíso farm wins two awards in Colombia, Land of Diversity competition

Diego Samuel Bermúdez of El Paraíso farm in Caldas was the biggest winner of the fourth Colombia, Land of Diversity competition, held on 4 April. Bermúdez placed first in the Cuerpo (Body) and Exótico (Exotic) categories of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) competition. “I am very satisfied and grateful to my family and work team, who are here accompanying me, and those who made me worthy of these awards,” Bermúdez says. Growers from Tolima, Antioquia, and Cauca claimed the other four titles, each receiving COL$25 million (US$7980) for their coffees. With this competition, the FNC seeks to contribute to improving coffee growers’ profitability by effectively managing purchase prices, stimulate specialty coffee production, and continue to project Colombian coffee worldwide. The 47 finalists were present at the award ceremony, which took place in Santa Marta, department of Magdalena, in a festive and brotherly atmosphere with coffee growers who shared their experiences. “This competition becomes more relevant at this time, as it generates more income to coffee growers and highlights the call that the institution has made to all market players to recognize the work and quality of Colombian coffee,” FNC Chief Commercial Officer Juan Camilo Ramos says. A live auction of the 23 highest placing coffee lots of the competition will be available in a live auction held at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Boston, United States on 13 April. For more information, visit www.federaciondecafeteros.org