Farm(er) Friday, January 27th, 2023
The Alvarado/Vasquez Family of El Sute, Comayagua, Honduras
I met Don Chico (Francisco Alvarado) for the first time about 15 years ago. He was a new member of an organic coffee co-op that was sending coffee up to Wisconsin and I represented the buyers, a small non-profit called Farmer to Farmer.
At the time, it struck me how enthusiastic he was for me to go up and see his farm. He was not the typical humble, quiet Honduran campesino. I came to find him full of spark and vision and pride and energy and ready to do everything to see his family thrive. Don Chico is a man who is always in motion.
When we visited the first time, he had painted a sign on his gate, welcoming us and signaling that this is an organic farm. He showed us the compost piles and had great pride in everything. I met his grandchildren, Federico and Sergio, and he said that everything he does is for them. Don Chico’s instant love for me made his whole family love me and treat me like a member of his family.
Since that first visit, I have probably been back at least eight times. This is an effort because his house is a four-hour trip from the city, up steep and bumpy mountain roads that are only passable by 4-wheel drive trucks. But now I can’t go to Honduras without a visit to the Alvarado/Vasquez house.
The more I visit, the more I see that Don Chico is just the outward face of a powerful family. His partner, Doña Simona Vasquez (Doña Moncha), basically runs the farm in El Sute, because Don Chico also has another farm in Yoro, 8 hours away on the other side of the country. Along with Doña Moncha, their daughter Berta is a force to be reckoned with as well, managing every aspect of the operation.
I have watched Berta’s two kids, Federico and Sergio grow up over the years. In 2022 Federico decided to quit high school. He really wants to be a mechanic and fix things. He is also a skilled musician, teaching himself guitar and keyboard. Sergio, his younger brother, is still in school, and he prides himself on his schoolwork.
Meanwhile, back in Wisconsin…
© 2023 Andrew Gaertner. All rights reserved.
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