THE HEART AND SOUL OF A GOOD JOE
Sustainable Farming Practices and Social Responsibility Add to the Flavour of Mogiana Coffee
Before you reach for that familiar brand of mass-produced coffee, you may want to consider the benefits of a single-origin, eco-friendly alternative. Award-winning Mogiana Coffee, hailing from a family-owned plantation in the lush Brazilian highlands, has struck a chord with local coffee drinkers as taken with the richness of this product as they are with the virtues of its story.
As President of Mogiana Coffee, Cristina Dias enjoys a familial advantage over her competitors. Dias’ coffee is imported directly from her family’s sustainable coffee plantation located amid the lush volcanic soil of the Brazilian Mogiana valley. “Many people don’t know that most of the popular coffee companies source their beans through international brokers,” Dias explains. “Mogiana is the only “family-traded”, single-origin, award winning, sustainably cultivated Brazilian coffee available in Vancouver.”
Founded in 1890 by Dias’ great, great grandparents, this traditional plantation has stayed true to its sustainable farming methods and its humanitarian philosophy for over 120 years. Crops are still cultivated by hand while a water turbine system, harnessed from a nearby waterfall, powers the processing plant, the estate, and the 47 homes provided to each of the estate’s farmers and their families.
“We know that much more goes into a good cup of coffee than the best beans,” says Cristina. “It involves a healthy dose of humanity and social responsibility as well.” To that end, the Dias family ensures that a solid infrastructure delivers quality community living to those working in the farm. Recreational facilities, a medical clinic, a social club, a church and, of course, an official-sized soccer field are all at the villagers’ disposal. By donating an acre of their farmland, the Dias family was able to champion the construction of much-needed educational facilities for local children. Named after Cristina’s great grandmother, The Mathilde Carvalho Dias School now educates about 700 children from all corners of the Mogiana valley.
Because of their vigorous dedication to sustainable farming practices, the coffee industry’s environmental body, UTZ Certified, has awarded the family farm its seal of approval. And because of their relentless commitment to the highest flavour standard, the Dias family has achieved both 1st and 2nd place standings at “Cup of Excellence” — a strict competition that selects the very best coffees produced per country, per year – as well as a Gold Medal standing for “Best Espresso” awarded by Illy Coffee. As other coffee conglomerates move forward in mass production and mechanization, Mogiana has done well to stick with tradition.
Mogiana Coffee is locally owned and operated by Cristina Dias. Recognizable by its large coffee bloom logo, Mogiana can be found at various specialty coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, popular retailers, farmers markets and for sampling at numerous community events in the lower mainland.
For information about Mogiana Coffee, or for more on this news story, please contact Cristina Dias at: 604-839-4494 or email: cristina@nullmogianacoffee.com; www.mogianacoffee.com
