Nossa Senhora de Fátima farm is located in Cristalina, estate of Goiás, has an area of 902 hectares for the production of Arabica Coffee, 890 hectares of which are irrigated by 10 central pivots and 12 hectares of dry land.

The region of “Cerrado Goiano” has been considered the new Brazilian frontier for specialty coffee production. The state of Goiás is a bordering state with Minas Gerais and Cerrado Mineiro region. The state itself is well known for other agricultural products being the coffee production relatively recent in this region.

Initially, coffee plantations came as a way of diversifying crops. However, producers soon realized that the climate and soil of the region allied with the technology and experience they have already had implemented on the other crops, would be the perfect match to produce specialty coffees.

City and State: Cristalina – Goiás

Region: Cerrado Goiano

Varietals: Catuaí 144, Catuaí 62, Palma 2 e IAC 125

Area: 902 ha

Altitude: 1000m

Soil: Clayey Oxisol

Clima: Altitude Tropical Average

Temperature: 22ºC (low 5ºC and high 32ºC)

Sustainable and Social Practices

Besides of the UTZ certification, the farm is also engaged on many sustainable and social practices. Zancanaro family believes that we should give back to the earth what it has provided them. The same care that is take non coffee production is taken with the whole cultivation environment.

Environmental Initiatives:

  • Cover crops planting in between the coffee rows, aimed at maintaining soil moisture, wind protection, increasing organic matter, efficient use of fertilization and nutrients recycling, and fodder radish, also between the lines of the coffee, to attract natural enemies and bees to the coffee plantation balance.
  • Constant reforestation of native trees (30 hectares currently).
  • Improved technologies for machinery to improve fuel economy.
  • Research agreements with renowned institutions, among them Embrapa, for better use and conservation of soil with improved phosphorus fertilization strategies.
  • Use of wet mill equipment that saves 30% more water.
  • Cover crops planting in between the coffee rows, aimed at maintaining soil moisture, wind protection, increasing organic matter, efficient use of fertilization and nutrients recycling.

Social Engagement:

  • Donations of vegetables products for religious, social entities, and rehab clinics.
  • Use of a dam to produce fish for employees.
  • Encouragement of sports practice with space rentals and the use of the patio structure – during non-harvesting season – for physical exercise.

I am very proud to say about Mr. Gelci Zancanaro family and the way I work with them. I am very happy to work for this company. We feel we are all the same, no matter what our role is in the company. I hope to still be part of this company for a long time. I thank God every day for this great opportunity in which I have been learning a lot. I am thankful every day for the great responsibility trusted in me by Mr. Gelci Zancanaro and all his family. For me it is a pleasure to work with the coffee crop.

Vitalino Pires dos Anjos