COMMUNITY
In the mountains, where the fresh air caresses the skin and the aroma of Colombian artisanal coffee fills the air, rises the Nasa U'y Café farm of the Liz Andela family. With seven members, this family has carved out a place for itself in the world among the rows of coffee plants that seem to stretch to the horizon. Life on the farm is a constant cycle, a dance with nature that never stops. There are no breaks, no days off. Coffee requires dedication, as it is a premium Colombian product, and each of them has learned from an early age that hard work is the key to reaping its rewards.
On the Liz Andela farm, coffee isn't the only protagonist. The tall, generous plantain plants sway in the wind, offering shade and nourishment. The yucca, with its substantial roots, awaits harvesting, while vegetables grow in the rows, filling the sunny days with color. Beans and squash intertwine in a natural dance, each contributing its own essence to the life of the farm. Water springs sprout like tiny treasures, nourishing the earth and providing life to the crops. Life on the Liz Andela farm is a reminder that, in the interconnectedness of plants, water, and human effort, not only Colombian coffee beans flourish, but also a family united by love and tradition.
“When we were young, we were always instilled in a love of work, of caring for plants, of sowing, of caring for the earth.”
The area's volcanic soils enriched by ashfall create a fertile environment that is the perfect home for crops. Although eruptions sometimes bring a gray blanket to the land, they are also a gift from nature, as the ash nourishes the soil, allowing plants to grow with strength and vitality, creating the finest coffee in Colombia. The farm's history is intertwined with that of a family uncle, a pioneer who, with his curiosity and desire to learn, planted the first coffee seeds in the 1970s. It was he who attended a seminar and returned to the farm with a new dream: to transform the family landscape into a home full of life, crops, and prosperity.
“The idea of Native Root was based on a
“fair payment for coffee.”
Over time, this knowledge passed from hand to hand, until grandparents established the coffee plantations that would later be entrusted to their parents. Thus, love for the land became a family ritual, where each person contributed their wisdom and experience.
In the 1970s and 1980s, farming began to expand. Although it is widely believed in agriculture that long-cultivated soils tend to become depleted, the Liz Andela farm challenges that notion. In its rich diversity of crops, where coffee trees coexist with plantains, yucca, vegetables, and beans, the soil remains vibrant and full of life. This wisdom, passed down through generations, reflects the family's deep understanding of their environment. For them, regenerative and conscious agriculture with the land and its ecosystems is neither a rarity nor a luxury; it is part of their daily life as Indigenous people. An ancestral practice that has maintained the health of the land since time immemorial.
The Liz Andela family's farm, although small at two hectares, is full of life. With around 10,000 coffee trees, each one represents the family's effort and passion. However, their annual production of approximately four tons is not enough to fully sustain them, so they also depend on coffee from their neighbors, with whom they have shared life and work through ancient practices such as "minga," or shared community work. However, the path has not always been easy. The story of their company begins with deep sorrow.
The family saw their efforts and dedication vanish in the face of an international economic system that treated coffee, a sacred food, with contempt. This system manipulated the market and paid such a low price for coffee that it was decided to cut down and destroy the coffee plantations in 2010 because the income didn't even cover the costs of producing the food. However, instead of giving up, the family decided to adapt.
Thus, in 2017, they began to seek alternatives, diversify their crops, and strengthen their relationships with their neighbors. Together, they formed a support network, sharing not only coffee but also ideas and strategies to overcome adversity. Our efforts focused on building strong relationships with coffee growers and educating the community about the importance of valuing the work that goes behind each cup of coffee. Transparency in payments and honest communication were essential to gaining everyone's trust. Although it was a challenge at first, little by little the community began to understand that investing in their production was an investment in their future. Thus, our company, founded in 2017, has become a driving force for change, where the quality of our coffee goes hand in hand with the well-being of those who produce it. In every cup we offer, there is a story of effort, collaboration, and a deep commitment to our community. We remain dedicated to ensuring that every coffee grower receives the recognition and reward they deserve.
In short, Native Root is a specialty coffee producer and exporter founded in 2017. The company was founded by Ervin Liz, a third-generation coffee farmer and member of Nasa indigenous peoples. In 2021, Native Root became a family business made up of four women and three men. We are proud to be a women majority-owned company. All of our coffee is grown, harvested, and processed with great love and dedication on our ancestral lands in Cauca, Colombia. For three generations, we have worked to produce high-quality coffees following the tradition inherited by our grandparents. It is a legacy of years of work, wisdom, and pride that we bring to your table today and that will ultimately connect you with our Native Roots.
"Thank you so much for being part of our community and for supporting us in promoting this project that has become an agent of change for coffee growing in our region." Ervin Liz, Founder of Native Root.
TIMELINE
