ABOUT HELSAR DE ZARCERO
Good agricultural practices- Organic production and pasteurized cascara
An example in sustainable practices
Ricardo Perez Barrantes and the brothers Marvin and Felipe Rodriguez are the partnership behind Helsar de Zarcero.
The mill produces our West Valley Regional Selection made up of coffees from 30 families in the region and is distinguished by receiving only ripe cherries for which they pay farmers a premium price. This results in a regional blend of incomparable quality.
Helsar advocates for environmentally sustainable practices. They use both collected rain water and fresh water to process cherries in the eco-pulpers. Each year they plant around 700 trees to offset the carbon their equipment produces.
Since 2012 together with the University of Costa Rica they have researched the possibility of transforming coffee pulp waste into creating food-grade cascara using modern technology and pasteurization. The process destroys or deactivates microorganisms and enzymes that contribute to food spoilage or risk of disease, including vegetative bacteria, but keeps all the health benefits present in the coffee skin.
This is where our famous Gesha cascara comes from.
helsar
Located in Llano Bonito of Naranjo, West Valley of Costa Rica, the mill is recognised for its sustainable coffee production.
Altitude: 1700 above sea level
Varieties: Caturra, Catuai, Villalobos, SL28, Gesha
Processes: washed, honey, natural.
Other crops grown: avocado, lemon, banana, apricot, corn
direct trade
We started our relationship with Helsar by purchasing his pastaurized cascara. From waste to superfood, this innovative pasteurization process ensured thorough sterilization of the skins, produces the cleanest cascara in the market!
The West Valley Regional Selection coffee is now a staple in the Grounds Coffees collection, a coffee with a great price-quality relationship.