Farm info

Sitio Santa Maria is located in the Santa Maria do Marechal community of Marechal Floriano in the Montanhas do Espírito Santo region. Coffee grows on 10 of the farm’s 32 hectares and Edmar Busato is the fourth generation of his family to produce coffee in Marechel Floriano. His great-grandfather, Santo Busato, came as a young boy from Italy to the region in 1890, where he worked the land for subsistence farming together with other families. From there, the property passed between generations until being left to Edmar.

Edmar grew up at the side of his father Ezidio, helping him and learning about coffee cultivation. Edmar has always worked to improve production volumes with new varieties and was always motivated to try for something different for his family’s coffee agriculture.

Edmar and his wife Sonia have two children, who support them in all the processes of running the farm. To ensure good quality, Edmar harvests coffee selectively, processes cherries as Pulped Natural, and dries the beans on raised beds. The farm’s elevation ranges from 800-1030 meters above sea level and flowering occurs between October and December.

Despite many difficulties in production, Edmar has become known for his specialty coffees, recognized with regional and state awards. Today, his oldest son, Igor Busato, is studying agronomy, poised to continue the legacy of his family’s work for future generations.

Region

Montanhas do Espirito Santo

The Montanhas do Espirito Santo region is dominated by small-scale coffee-growers and is characterized by the presence of farmers who are actively engaged in the entire chain of the production process. Growers in Espirito Santo work with family members and build off of traditional knowledge to innovate and improve their quality of life and coffee. Located in the southern area of the Espirito Santo state, where mild temperatures (73ºF) and steep highlands (between 700 and 1,000 meters) favor growing Arabica coffees, this region produces a superb quality coffee with a round body, nice acidity, and fine sweetness. While the most common process for the region is Natural, Pulped Naturals are increasing in popularity.

The state of Espirito Santo has its capital in the city of Vitoria, and the costal location of Espirito Santo to the south of Bahia, east of Minas Gerais, and North of Rio de Janeiro makes it a popular destination for its beaches. Inland, Espirito Santo is home to natural parks and preserves that protect the rich diversity of flora and fauna. Many communities in the mountains of Espirito Santo were settled at the beginning of the twentieth century by European immigrants from Italy and the Pomeranian region along the Baltic Sea coast, straddling the border between what are now Germany and Poland.