National Coffee Growers Committee

It is made up of representatives of the Colombian Government and the coffee departments. On behalf of the Government, the Ministers of Finance, Agriculture and Trade and the National Planning Director take part; and on behalf of coffee growers, a representative from each of the 15 coffee departments (elected by each departmental committee and approved […]

Departmental Coffee Grower Committees

The regional branches of the FNC in 15 departments of Colombia. They have administrative infrastructure and lead the extension work in each department.

Fair Trade

Initiative that aims to ensure that small producers of coffee (and other produce) receive a floor price or prices higher than those paid by the market in order to improve their living conditions.

Seedling

Coffee plant that already has two or more crosses of properly formed branches and has been put in a 17 x 23 cm black polyethylene bag with a mix of soil and organic matter.

Noble or unaggressive weeds

Dense and permanent cover of plants featuring superficial radical systems that compete little with the crop. These covers mitigate the impact of raindrops on soil and form a rough surface that reduces runoff.

Chlorosis

Pathological state of plants caused by poor synthesis of chlorophyll, manifested by yellowing of stems and leaves.

Chlorophyll

Generic name of green pigments of plant chloroplasts that, during photosynthesis, transform light into chemical energy.

Coffee grading

Bean sorting by size and shape according to the number of types desired. Separation is done through screens.

Groups of coffee

This classification establishes 4 groups for export coffees: Mild Arabicas, other mild Arabicas, natural Arabicas and Robustas.

Hull

Film that covers green coffee (endosperm). Known as “cisco” in Colombia, it is usually removed in the milling process.