Albino Ibias

Albino Ibias and his family reside in the small town of Acconcharcas, a deep sector within the Incahuasi Valley. He is an agroforestry professional using traditional Inca methods, and his exceptional processing and preparation are guided by his son Saulo, a Q-Grader and quality control manager for the cooperative.

Historically, there was little infrastructure in the Acconcharcas area, making quality coffee production very difficult. Transporting coffee to the nearest paved town took three days on horseback and was not cost-effective, so the production of the cochineal dye was encouraged instead of coffee. However, in recent years, with improved quality management, feedback, and higher prices, Albino has increased his coffee production, expanding his farm into the shaded, high-altitude forests.