Don Chico
El Sute

Don Chico's full name is Francisco Alvarado Medina. He has a little over four acres of organic coffee in El Sute, Honduras, and is in the process of converting more land into organic production. He has chickens, pigs, horses, and a few milk cows, and he collects manure to make prepared composts. His organic plot on the ridge is at a high elevation at 1,750 meters above sea level. Don Chico has completely embraced organic farming and even has posted a sign at the entrance to his farm describing it as a "Finca Organica," Don Chico also grows corn, beans, vegetables, bananas, citrus, and hardwood shade trees.  

He is also a leader in the rural lending group, which guards members' capital in a bank account and lends it out within and outside of the group, functioning like a bank. Don Chico's lending group has started a little general store in the community, where each member takes a month-long turn staffing the store, and all members share in the earnings. Don Chico has helped bring a potable water system to the community, as well as new roads, and electricity is on the way. Don Chico seems to be right in the center of these collective ventures. He is a community leader, but he knows that all he does, he does for the future of his family. He is 66 years old and he has two daughters, Berta and Vilma, and seven grandchildren. He wants Farmer to Farmer to know that he is very grateful for the opportunity to sell his coffee to us.