Description
The Diamond
Neftali Castro, originally from Cajamarca, is the youngest of seven siblings and the only one who works on the farm with his parents, Neftali Castro and Virgelina Velasquez. He trained as a Coffee Administration Technician and holds a degree in Agricultural Technology from the University of Tolima. In March 2017, he returned to Cajamarca after working elsewhere as a public works administrator. He returned to work with his father and began his journey in specialty coffee. In 2019, he achieved a top ranking in the Cup of Excellence and in 2011, he improved his result, finishing third. Neftali firmly believes that quality, working with different varieties, can be the key to true sustainability.
Tolima is the fourth largest coffee-growing region, after the Coffee Region (Armenia, Risalda, and Caldas), Huila, and Antioquia, but by department, it is the third largest after Huila and Antioquia.
Tolima has had difficult times regarding public order, as it was the birthplace of the FARC and other illegal groups. The situation has changed substantially in recent years, although some areas remain dangerous due to coca and poppy cultivation.
The department is entirely mountainous and lies within the central mountain range. Aside from agriculture, it also has a significant mining and energy focus, although in recent years the community has managed to limit mining, particularly gold mining, to protect important natural resources. Cajamarca is an example of this, being the first municipality to ban mining by popular vote.
Cajamarca isn't a region known for its coffee; it's known as Colombia's agricultural breadbasket, and its milk production is also important. Coffee is something of a novelty there, and despite its altitude and temperature, it's ideal for growing quality coffees, a fact that has been evident in recent years, as seen in the results obtained in the Cup of Excellence.
Cajamarca's most important characteristic is its altitude, with a significant amount of land above 1,700 meters, making it ideal for growing specialty coffees.