Jovito & Hilda: An Alma-doption Story
At Alma Coffee, everything we do begins with relationships. Everything is rooted in the soil of Honduras and carried all the way to the cup you enjoy each morning. Recently, we had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring one of those relationships full circle. We were overjoyed to host our dear friends and fellow coffee farmers, Jovito and Hilda, as they made their first-ever journey from Copán, Honduras to Holly Springs, Georgia.
This visit was more than just a tour. Thanks to a recommendation letter and months of planning, we were able to help secure U.S. visas for both Jovito and Hilda. This was an achievement in itself. For many small-scale farmers in rural Honduras, traveling abroad can seem like an impossible dream. The hurdles are many, and the process is daunting. But Jovito and Hilda's visit wasn’t just a dream realized, it was a milestone for everyone connected to their coffee.
As first-time visitors to the United States, Jovito and Hilda experienced a bit of culture shock, as anyone might expect. Everyday things we often overlook, like riding in an elevator or going to the aquarium, felt completely new to them. I mean think about it… fish in a tank is a pretty weird concept. However, watching their wonder and joy at the aquarium reminded us not to take the comforts and conveniences of our daily lives for granted. It also deepened our appreciation for the shared experiences that coffee makes possible, no matter where we come from.
Of course, one of the biggest highlights of the trip was bringing them to the Alma roastery. Seeing their eyes light up as they watched us roast their beans, package them, and prepare them for customers across the country was a moment we’ll never forget. Their farm is one of our cherished Alma-doptions. What is an Alma-doption? One of our initiatives towards keeping Honduras coffee sustainably harvested and minimizing pollution is through partnering with other farmers in Honduras. We purchase their coffee at market-value to keep larger companies from coming in and purchasing their coffee at low prices. This leads to a system of cheaply made coffee and environmentally ruinous practices. Through our Alma-doption program, we not only create relationships with other farmers in Honduras but we are putting our mission of sustainability into practice.
This visit was about so much more than coffee. It was about connection between farmers and roasters, between countries and cultures, and most importantly, between people. Jovito and Hilda are not just partners; they are family. Their hard work and dedication are a part of every cup we roast and every story we tell.
We’re so proud to continue building bridges between origin and roastery, and we hope this is just the beginning of many more visits like this one.
