Fazenda Fortaleza

As part of the ongoing scheme to support coffee communities, we have chosen to use coffees from Fazenda Fortaleza in Brasil. Coffees produced by this Fazenda (farm), fit the criteria set by us “Supporting Coffee Communities” - First of all the quality must be much better than that offered by the majority of the market. - Social and environmental considerations must be high on the farm’s agenda - We will pay a higher than market price to maintain supply of this coffee

The fact that Fortaleza is now farmed by the 5th generation of the family, shows the effort, care and concern in looking after the plantations.

Fazenda Fortaleza has been in the same family for over 140 years. Coffee trees were planted in 1862.

 

"In our agricultural activities we are concerned with high quality, productivity, respect to the environment and social issues," states Alexandre Nogueira. Alexandre Nogueira and his father Rubens Figueiredo

Environmental Preservation

Forests are objects of constant concern regarding their conservation. Handling and managing techniques in the property follow ecological and legal precepts of conservation of slopes and springs, maintaining them intact to human intervention.

The care with the legal preservation area formed by a magnificent Atlantic Rain Forrest, with a huge population of ancient trees, is performed with utmost responsibility. The reserves are constantly monitored by official forest authorities, because of their impressiveness and rarity.

This noble area, in addition to plant diversity, is also the home of wildlife found in very few farms in southeastern Brazil.

The connection of those areas (260 hectares in total), through ecological corridors allow the transmission of wildlife without there being exposed to the eyes of men or unnatural predators. Among the environmental, preservation and valuation care. Fortaleza also uses recycling. The water used to wash coffee is reused during the process. After it has been used, it is stored in pools. Subsequently, the water can be pumped to irrigate pastures, or it can be applied to the husk of processed coffee. The husks, after undergoing an organic composting process, will be used to fertilize plantations, gardens and native tree plantations in the reforestation area.

Social Aspects

Social responsibility is also another point of major importance to the owners of Fazenda Fortaleza. In addition to generating jobs, the properties develop health, education, skill and leisure projects, to improve the quality of life of their employees.

The farms offer free of charge dental services and 50% of health plans for all employees and their families. Children are enrolled in school and their illiteracy rate is zero. Some families are already in their fourth generation as employees of the farms, have been trained and specialized in coffee production, and currently have the greater part of the responsibility for producing the coffee. Currently, the average time of service of each employee in the farms is ten years.

 

Situated in a region propitious to the finest coffees of the world, 100% of the farms' coffee trees belong to the arabica species, with varieties such as Catuaí and Novo Mundo. More recently, varieties that resist diseases such as Icatu and Catucaí were planted. The plantations receive the permanent technical assistance of Agronomist Cesar Augusto Correa Candiano, with extension post-graduation studies on Managing Business Coffee Plantations and Environmental Impact Evaluation.

The use of manual or mechanical harvesting is defined from the characteristics of the plantation - age, topography and productivity, and always occurs in the dry weather and well defined season, when most of the beans are in the 'cherry' stage (ripe).

After Harvesting

Coffee is immediately transferred to the processing area after harvesting and undergoes a separation process between dry and ripe beans. Cherries are depulped from their husk and remain involved by their mucilage, guaranteeing an outstanding sweet taste that is transmitted to the grains during the time they are put to dry under the sun.

The dry grains that completed an advanced process to become ripe and dry on the trees are called 'natural coffees', the heart of a good espresso because of their body and exclusive taste of their aroma.

The drying process will be completed in mechanical dryers, warmed with the indirect fire of a hot water boiler with individual temperature control, which prevents the presence of other odors. For fuel, the farms use pieces of leftover wood or reforestation wood. To arrive at a uniform color and humidity of the grains, coffee is submitted to a 'rest' in wooden bins, thus obtaining a high quality guarantee.

With the above-described processing system, the company offers coffees of the natural (dried in their husk) and pulped natural types, classified by 14/16, 16/18 or 17/18 sieves.

Due to the constant investments towards continuous improvements in quality, the company is an associate of and is certified by BSCA and by CSC Italia - Caffé Specialli Certificati.

Therefore, its clients have the guarantee and assurance that they are acquiring products of excellent quality, totally traceable, produced under ecologically correct methods, socially responsible and consequently, sustainable.

The continuous attendance to SCCA(Specialty Coffee Association of America) and SCAE (Specialty Coffee Association of Europe) events, allows Intertech to maintain Constant contacts with its clients and partners in the coffee market worldwide.

Technical Data

Name of the Farms: Fortaleza and Cachoeira (São Tomás de Aquino - MG) Area of the Farms: 1,000 Hectares Coffee Planted Area: 260 Hectares (2002) Varieties: Catuaí, Mundo Novo, Icatú and Catucaí (100% arabica) Processing facilities: Washing and pulping equipment with water recycling, 10,000 m2 of terraces, dryers warmed by indirect fire and individual temperature control, wooden bins, equipment to classify the coffee and prepare it to be exported