T’zun-Wit’z

Benito Ramos

Small-scale producer

Benito Ramos is a second-generation coffee producer in Concepción Huista, Huehuetenango region. During the harvest, Benito made sure that his cherries were picked in three passes to ensure that only the ripest cherries were selected. The cherries were depulped with a clean depulper on the same day they were picked. The coffee was then fermented with water in plastic tubs for 36 hours. After washing, the coffee was soaked for another 12 hours in water and eventually taken to the patios to dry for six days. The name of Benito’s farm, T’zun-Wit’z, comes from the local indigenous language Popti. “T’zun” means “Birth” and “Wit’z” translates to “The Hill”, so the farm is called “Birth of the Hill.” “In the beginning we were farming beans and corn, but my dad decided to plant coffee trees on the farm. With a little training we achieved some good results,” Benito explains. Benito is part of Cooperative El Sendero, which provides support and education for coffee producers in and around Concepción Huista. In the future, Benito is interested in strengthening his agronomic practices and his post-harvest processes. “The most interesting learning for me has been to see our plants and farm grow. Thanks to coffee, my children have been able to study. The only time I worry is when the prices go down, but we are motivated to grow coffee for many years to come,” Benito tells.