Costa Rica Don Lica Natural

Located at the base of Chirripo Volcano, the 3-hectare farm belonging to Lica Torres and his family stands as one of the few daring ventures in Brunca, Costa Rica's southernmost agricultural region. The conditions there are far from perfect: the soil is rocky, the slope is steep, and the climate frequently swings between being too hot and too cold for successful crop cultivation. Initially, Lica's father planted pine trees on the farm, but growing timber is a slow process that doesn't offer quick returns. That’s where Lica's innovative idea came into play. Four years ago, Lica observed that other families nearby were successfully growing coffee and learned about a new experimental hybrid variety being cultivated at lower elevations in Brunca. This variety, known as Milenio, is a hybrid developed from a cross between the rust-resistant T5296 and the cherished Ethiopian landrace Sudan Rume. Milenio was designed to be disease-resistant and produce high-quality coffee—a combination that is quite rare. Although this variety was originally meant for lower elevations due to its resistance to Roya (Leaf Rust), Lica took a bold leap and decided to cultivate Milenio trees on his farm, situated at 1500 masl.