For the past four generations Carlos Palacio’s family has been growing and harvesting coffee in Huehuetenango, Guatemala—a region renowned for growing some of the world’s finest Arabica coffee. In 2000 and 2001, coffee prices crashed because of issues in the larger supply chain. This had an enormous impact on the livelihoods of coffee farmers throughout Guatemala. Many farmers began selling their land in order to support their families. Despite the hardship, the Palacios family continued to grow and harvest coffee, even though the prices declined significantly.
Around this time, Carlos met his wife Katie when she, originally from MN, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala. She spent a significant amount of time working on the Palacio’s coffee farm and talking with the family about trying to export the coffee directly to the United States instead of using a “middle-man” export company. In 2004, Katie and Carlos first started selling coffee, bringing it to the United States in their suitcases and selling the coffee to friends and family. Everyone loved the coffee, and in 2007, Katie and Carlos started their small business, Café Palmira. They began selling Café Palmira coffee at farmers markets in Minneapolis and St. Paul, including the Mill City Farmers Market. The green beans of Café Palmira are shipped directly from Guatemala to Minnesota and roasted to perfection weekly in Minneapolis.
Café Palmira coffee beans are hand-picked and shade-grown at approximately 1,500 meters, ideal conditions for producing the best coffee, according to traditional Mayan traditions. Shade-grown coffee creates more biodiversity and bird habitat with less need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers. This practice prevents deforestation and does not disturb existing wildlife.
In the summer months, Carlos offers hot and iced coffee as well as tea. In the winter months, Carlos sells his coffee beans (both whole and ground) between trips back to the farm in Guatemala.
