Consisting of a single paved road, the community of Monserrate straddles a ridge in the beautiful Cordillera Central mountain range in the southwestern state (department) of Huila. At the top of the road is a large brick church that houses a shrine to the Virgen de Monserrate, a statue of Virgin Mary that’s become a regional tourist attraction. Most residents of Monserrate and surrounding communities are small-scale farmers who grow coffee as a cash crop.
As a contractor for the Colombian Specialty Coffee Program, ACDI/ VOCA introduced Atlas to the farmers of Monserrate in 2005. Craig Holt, Atlas Coffee Importer's founder, initially traveled to Monserrate as an ACDI/VOCA volunteer and worked with the growers to assess the quality of their coffees, review their harvesting & processing techniques, and offer suggestions on how to position themselves in the specialty coffee market. Today, we continue to purchase Monserrate’s coffee at a premium with each year bringing even higher quality coffee with an opportunity to connect with the farmers in a uniquely personal way.
