Why does coffee grow in the Galapagos Islands? is it expensive?

The Galapagos Islands is an archipelago of 21 islands, about 1000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador. These islands are an once-in-a-lifetime place with exotic wildlife, magnificent scenery and subtropical climate.

But what's it like not just living there, but growing coffee in such a remote place? Please read on to learn about the unique challenges and opportunities here.

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A rocky marine iguana sitting on the island of Santa Cruz. 、

How does coffee arrive in the Galapagos Islands?

Coffee plants reached the archipelago at the end of the 19th century. Manuel J. Cobos arrived in St. Cristobal, one of the largest islands, in 1866. Here, he founded a colony called El Progreso, which grew sugar cane and coffee. San Cristobal's rich volcanic soil makes the island an ideal choice for both crops.

Corworth imported bourbon beans from the French Caribbean colonies and used prisoners to work on the island. Today, it is one of the few places in the world where the original variety can be found. You can also see some primitive trees that are more than 140 years old in El Progreso.

Over the years, other varieties have been introduced. Quiman Valle is a coffee farmer on Santa Cruz Island. He told me that settlers from coffee-growing areas in Ecuador brought seeds to grow coffee for their own consumption.

Coffee trees are believed to be 140 years old on the island of El Progreso, St. Cristobal. Photo Source: Eduardo Vintimilla

Challenges to coffee cultivation in the Galapagos Islands

When you visit a coffee plantation in the Galapagos Islands, you may wonder why it looks so chaotic. There are no orderly lines or regular patterns. Plants are not arranged in rows or semilunaris like other planting areas. It's more like a natural coffee forest. "this is volcanic soil," Quiman explained with a smile. Where there are no stones, we put a plant. "

The harvest season takes place between November and February, the driest month of the year. The torrential rain caused the cherries to fall to the ground.

Drying coffee in this environment is a challenge. The relative hygrometer shows a level of 84% to 95%. Producers are forced to dry coffee mechanically in the oven, which reduces coffee quality and increases costs.

Although there is a lot of water in these islands, few of them are fresh. Coffee fruits are washed in water purchased by Rain Water or a desalination plant. In addition, agricultural equipment and supplies need to be shipped from mainland Ecuador, making production more expensive.

Members of the coffee cooperative choose the color of the Cherry Association on Santa Cruz Island to choose the color of the cherry color of the Galapagos Islands. Photo Source: Eduardo Vintimilla

Since the Galapagos Islands are protected ecosystems, the use of most chemical pesticides is prohibited. Agriculture is responsible for the environment here, which is undoubtedly a good thing, but it increases the workload of farmers.

Local wildlife contributes to natural pest control. For other crops, the giant tortoise is an ally of the coffee plantation. When looking for shade under the coffee tree, sea turtles feed on weeds. This keeps the ground clear and creates natural corridors around the trees.

Although coffee is not a native plant, its production is good for biodiversity. Producers are committed to helping control invasive species and encouraging indigenous species in crop management.

A giant turtle on the island of Santa Cruz.

It is difficult and expensive to ensure the safety of the labor force on coffee farms here. Romel Ochoa is a producer on Santa Cruz Island. He told me that the income of the harvester is $30, and they usually get about 60 pounds a day.

Legislation prohibits workers from entering the islands freely. Producers are responsible to their workers. They must pay for the trip to the island and promise to leave the workers at the end of the contract. Employers could face hefty fines if workers do not leave the islands.

Rommel told me that the minimum wage for Ecuadorians who work in the Galapagos archipelago is 80% higher, which increases the temptation to stay and work illegally. For locals, coffee is a relatively unattractive job-it costs less and pays more than farm work, such as fishing.

So why grow coffee in the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos Islands is not an easy place to grow coffee. Then why are you doing this? Because of the unique conditions make the unique flavor.