Contributors
Libia González, Ph.D.
Professor of Humanities,
University of Puerto Rico,
Rio Piedras Campus.
Carmen Alamo
Professor of Agricultural Economics,
University of Puerto Rico,
Mayagüez Campus,
Luis Pumarada O’Neill, Ph.D.
Archaeologist, Engineer.
Melin Rullán
Agro Entrepreneur & Coffee Farmer leader.
Pedro Bengochea
Coffee Farmer & Community leader.
“Buho�
Art Director
buhofreebird@gmail.com
Eduardo Aguiar &
Tere Marichal
Corte Directo
Production House,
cortedirectoaguiar@gmail.com
Rick & Nelly Asselta
Roots & Shoots Program of Dr. Jane Goodall
rasselta@janegoodall.org
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About Us
You are starting a journey that will take you back almost 300 years to Spanish colonial Puerto Rico where the smell of lush tropical forests combined with the captivating coffee aroma, framed the development of an agricultural economy based on sugar and coffee production.
Yet, today it presents one of the best opportunities to develop a prosperous, sustainable standard of living for many coffee belt communities through education and strengthening of specialty coffee production and exports, agro tourism, and the preservation of the historical and natural heritage.
The mission of Cafiesencia, an NGO (non-government organization), is to advocate and promote a holistic sustainable approach to the coffee belt where historic, cultural, socioeconomic, agricultural and natural values and activities are welcome to converge and combine efforts for the benefit of the communities of the Puerto Rico coffee belt and the greater good.
In 2011 Puerto Rico will celebrate 275 years of coffee culture.
ALMOST 300 YEARS OF COFFEE CULTURE.
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The Tahona machine, the oldest coffee husking machine or “piladora” used during the 18th century. The one in the picture belongs to Hacienda Santa Clara.
Caribbean Map (XIX)
During the Spanish Rule, Puerto Rico’s location was strategic both for commercial and military purposes. But during the 18th century smuggling of Puerto Rican coffee also flourished in the hands of pirates and corsairs to the point where the Spanish Crown declared it tax free.
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