Brazil
Cerrado Mineiro
Francisco Sergio de Assis
Fazenda Terra Rica
Acaia, Catuaí 99, Catucai, Paraíso and IPR 103
Natural
July–September
Almond Butter, Cacao Nibs, Caramel, Chocolate, Cranberry, Dark Chocolate, Mandarin Orange, Milk Chocolate, Nut, Nutty, Red Wine
850 meters
N/A
60 kg w/ GrainPro
USA - New Jersey - CTI
Born in Paranavaí, Francisco graduated as an agronomist in Bandeirantes, PR. In the 1980s, the frost and the nematode in the plantations of Paraná forced them to look for other places to grow their crops. He moved to Cerrado where he found affordable land and everyone was delighted with the high-quality coffee production and natural beauty.
He married and became a partner with his father-in-law, together they bought a farm in Monte Carmelo, Fazenda Terra Rica. At first, due to lack of resources and infrastructure, he and his wife loaded the trucks, delivered the coffee and picked up the employees. His motto has always been to honor commitments. Having good credit, he was able to take out loans and in combination with sales of his crop, he was able to buy more property.
Besides Terra Rica, he also owns Água Limpa Farm, located in Patrocínio. He invested in technologies, administrative technical team, always seeking to produce with quality and meet the market. He currently has the participation of his sons Sérgio Henrique and Priscila, who are already following in his father’s footsteps in the production of coffee.
The Cerrado Mineiro region, located in northwest of Minas Gerais State is a world-recognized, high-quality coffee producing origin and became the first Protected Geographical Indication in Brazil in 2005, with full Designation of Origin in 2013. A strong characteristic of this region is its well-defined seasons—a hot, wet summer followed by a pleasantly dry winter. The dry climate during harvest eliminates potential problems with humidity during the drying process.
Minas Gerais is Brazil’s principal agricultural state, and the Cerrado is home to many of the country’s celebrated coffee estates, with expertise in planting, harvesting, drying, and sorting. We love Cerrado coffees for their big body, rich chocolate notes, and velvety texture when pulled as espresso.
Today, the area’s 4,500 farmers produce a combined average of 6 million bags per harvest, with an average of 35 bags per hectare. To reach these production levels, producers had to first adapt to the region’s conditions. Coffee farmers first arrived in Cerrado in the 1970’s, after being pushed out of the state of Parana by frost and out of the state of São Paulo by nematodes. They found the soil in Cerrado to be very acidic, which they rectified with the application of calcium to create the healthy soils they enjoy today.
Cerrado coffee farms are cultivated in areas with elevations varying between 800 and 1,300 meters above sea level and are known for consistently producing high quality coffees with a repeatable profile. Independent of farm size, the spirit of professionalism is present throughout Cerrado’s coffee producers. Entrepreneurialism is part of farmers’ DNA, and many producers are second or third generation growers who also hold degrees in agronomic engineering, business management, and administration. While each family narrative is different, Cerrado is characterized by an enterprising attitude.
