From coffee to citrus
Coffee has long been one of the most important crops in our region. But after a major outbreak of coffee rust (La Roya) in 2013, coffee largely disappeared from the lower altitudes. Many farmers diversified into citrus and ginger, while continuing coffee production on their higher plots.
This shift laid the foundation for a new chapter: first through the export of organic orange juice, and now – for the first time – through the export of fresh organic oranges to Europe. It’s a true milestone for us.
At Kivinaki, our farms are small – on average just 5 to 6 hectares per farmer. But our systems are diverse: most growers interplant oranges with crops like mango, papaya, coconut, maize, bananas, pepper and bamboo. This supports biodiversity and improves natural resilience.
Our cultivation is low-input, fully organic and based on compost and guano de isla – a nutrient-rich, natural fertiliser from seabirds. Thanks to this approach, our farming systems are both environmentally and socially sustainable. With just 3 hectares of citrus, a farmer can already achieve a Living Income – and most of us exceed that level.
