Santa Lucia / Brazil

Varietal: Yellow Catuai

Process: Natural 

Farm: Fazenda Santa Lucia

Producer: Helcio Carneiro Pinto

Geography: Carmo de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

• Helcio has dedicated a significant part of his life to the coffee industry, beginning at the age of 15. In 1976, he married Glycia Pereira Carneiro, and together, they took over the management of the Santa Lucia farm. During that time, the focus was primarily on coffee volume rather than quality. Access to knowledge, technology, and information about specialty coffee markets was limited.
• In the '90s, Helcio played a pivotal role as one of the founders of Aprocam (The Association of Coffee Producers from the Mantiqueira Region), a movement aimed at improving the quality of coffee in the Carmo de Minas region. This group of pioneers, including Helcio, sought the guidance of experts and scientists to enhance their understanding of coffee quality and implement large-scale quality production practices. The experts introduced them to the Pulped Natural Processing Method, and Helcio, being a pioneer in the region, was among the first to adopt the necessary facilities for this method.
• Over the years, with the ongoing support of universities, scientists, and insights gained from trips to coffee-producing countries, Helcio has continued to advance in the production of specialty coffee. Coffees from Santa Lucia have been consistently evaluated since 2017, and his name and farm have become well-known in key markets.
• Despite the success, Helcio acknowledges a significant challenge in manpower. He anticipates changes in the region's coffee characteristics due to this factor and emphasizes the importance of being prepared for this impending shift.