Harvest Period:
June-September
Altitude:
950 - 075 MASL
Region:
Chapada de Minas
Sao Mateus farm is a cultural jew in Chapada de Minas region. Located on the almost tercentenary city of Minas Novas, it holds the traits of the portuguese immigrant community, that in a pioneer way, on the final of the 1970’s, threw themselves into a journey through Brazilian countryside, leading to the production of renowned specialty coffees sold globally. Nowadays, the property, which the headquarters has traits of Portuguese architecture, is administered by Luis Manuel Martins. In this farm there is a mix of coffee plantation and silviculture. Its owner values respecting the land and the natural and human resources. Currently it gives work opportunities and income for 70 families and 50% of the property is composed by native forest areas. Sao Mateus farm is composed of a group of seven continuous smaller farms, which are known by the name of the first acquired farm, Sao Mateus. By the late 1970’s, a group of portuguese, who lived in Rio de Janeiro, decided to buy land in the Capelinha’s region, in a condominium system. Among those portuguese, there was Sr. Silverio Martins da Silva. When he knew the land, he fell completely in love with such vast and productive lands. Because of his rural origins, Dr. Silverio (as he was known by all), had always had interest in investing in the agricultural sector. Motivated by his roots, he has decided to plant coffee. Despite not knowing this activity, he has bet on this new investment. He has always worried about the social- economic development of the region, which had been very poor at that time. As Silverio was a civil engineer, he decided to build up the headquarters farm with Portuguese architectural traits.

Decades of love for coffee

In 1990, Luis Manuel Martins, who is one of the 8 children of Sr. Silverio, graduated in agronomy and took the administration of the farms, due to the return of his father to Portugal. With the new management has come the idea of diversifying the activities. Nowadays, Sao Mateus farm also has eucalyptus planted, which takes most of the cultivated area. It allows a very interesting economic management, because one of the productions defrays the other on the off season and during hard times. The coffee plantation on Sao Mateus farm began in 1982, and now it represents around 200 acre of land. The plantations areas are 1000 MASL, where natural coffees are produced, pulped natural and fermented coffees. In 2012 started the process of renovation of the crops, exchanging the old crops for new ones, with varieties and more suitable spaces. It assures a bigger plant’s vigor and a better future productivity. Besides that, there are 13 acres of irrigated land, which also gives a better productivity. The varieties planted are Catuai and Arara. Sao Mateus farm has been standing out as productor of specialty coffees, reaching awards in quality contests, as in “Illy Café”, “Três Corações”, “Emater” and others. There are a group of 60 fixed workers in Sao Mateus farm, who work through the year, and in the harvest periods, 40 workers more are admitted. Sao Mateus farm has great diversity and richness of environments. There are lush forests surrounded by cultivated lands, creating stunning landscapes. There are also a few streams which supply the farm with water for human use and also for agricultural activities. About 50% of the property is composed by native forest areas.

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