FINCA LAS NUBES

Las Nubes is located in Matagalpa and Jinotega, being a group of seven farms sharing a wet mill and processing facilities. Las Morenitas is one of seven estates across Jinotega and Matagalpa, owned by Victor Robelo as part of the Las Nubes group. 

OVERVIEW

The fertile soils, plenty of rain, and rivers make this area geographically perfect for growing coffee. The farm has a long and turbulent history, like many in Nicaragua. Re-possessed by the government in the 1980s, the farm finally returned to the owners to be revived and dedicated to producing high-quality coffee.

VARIETAL

The farm has about 25 blocks planted with coffee, which are in production, and a further 30 acres of protected virgin forest, and produces a variety of hybrid and catimor varietals alongside Caturras, Pacamara, and Bourbon.

Within Jinotega, 80 percent of the farm is Caturra. Still, where Catimor formerly thrived has now been replaced with Marsellesa, a new variety that is showing tremendous promise in Nicaragua and Mexico. Marsellesa is a hybrid between Hybrido de Timor and Villa Sarchi that was developed in Nicaragua as part of a pedigree selection process emphasizing cup quality and rust resistance. It is also a member of the WCR Verified program.

PROCESSING AND HARVEST

The coffee is picked and processed at the farm’s own wet mill before being taken as wet parchment to the dry mill facility in Matagalpa that Las Nubes bought in 2014. It is here that the drying beds are located, stacked three or four layers high to control temperature and humidity as required for the processing method. As the coffee dries, it is moved gradually lower and lower in the drying facility until it is ready for dry milling and bagging for export.

SUSTAINABLE

The workers on the farm itself are paid 35% higher than the market rate to ensure the best pickers come back to work at the farm when the harvest is in full swing and are rewarded for their efforts in doing so. 

For Victor, the particular part of the farms is its mountains, landscapes, and waterfalls. “We are in the Isabelia mountain range, and we protect a good amount of mountain. That allows us to ensure that the farm is green throughout the year.”

“In the community, we have developed jobs for the whole community, and we have donated clean water to the whole community. Our neighbors are small producers who collaborate with us and generate more income because we pay better than the laws of the country indicate.”

“Our plan for the future is to continue renewing and improving our plantations, where we are continuing to focus on quality and productivity. Our goal is to continue keeping our customers happy and satisfied with the quality of the coffee.”