Farm Histroy

From Portuguese descent, Mr. Adolpho Pereira Dias and his wife, Mrs. Bernardino da Silva Dias, had five children: Joaquim, Lindolpho, Jorge, Gabriel, and Francisco.

Fazenda Santa Alina was acquired in 1907 by Mr. Joaquim Bernardes da Silva Dias, jointly with one of his brothers, Mr. Lindolpho de Carvalho Dias. At that time the farm had 50,000 trees of "ordinary coffee" and another 30,000 trees of red Bourbon. The farm was bought from Mr. João Teixeira Diniz, the son of the Baron of Campo Místico, and had a total of 150 alqueires. Mr. João Cardillo purchased another 100 alqueires of good and new land, with no plantation up keeping. The farm's manager at that time was Mr. José Teixeira, who had previously worked at Fazenda Recreio. The main house was built in 1914.

In 1918, year market by a severe frost, the partnership between the Dias brothers was dissolved, and the land was divided. At that time, a partnership with Italian 50/50 tenant farmers began and lasted until 1954.

Mr. Joaquim Bernardes de Carvalho Dias, the son of Mr. Joaquim Bernardes da Silva Dias, became the owner of Fazenda Santa Alina in 1929.

In 1935, Mr. Joaquim Bernardes da Silva Dias dies at 63, and in the following year his grandson is born, and named after him.

In 1966 Mr. Otávio Jacinto arrives at the farm to manage it. From then onwards there was an increase in coffee plantations, expansion of terraces, purchase of equipment to process coffee, tractors, implements and improvements in the farm's structural part, forming its current configuration, not only in logistics but also in plantation up keeping.

On December 29, 2000, Mr. Joaquim Bernardes da Silva Dias' father donated the farm to him.

In the social area, the employees of the farm have weekly medical and dental care, recreation club, soccer field, churches (Catholic and Evangelical), and receive monthly food staples. They have at their disposal 70 houses, all in perfect conditions; 68 of the houses are occupied by a total of approximately 280 people. There is a Committee to organize social events elected by the dwellers.

The farm has an Occupational Safety Department with an Occupational Safety Technician and an Occupational Health Physician, and follows all Regulatory Standards (NRs) and Rural Regulatory Standards (NRRs). Workers receive specific instructions concerning activities that may involve risks to them, as well as regarding the correct use of Individual Protection Equipment (IPEs) that the farm makes available to its employees.

Coffee processing system

After harvesting the coffee is immediately transferred to the large sieves to be pre-washed by showers. Subsequently, the beans are transferred to a washer, to remove the impurities (stones, dirt, etc), and to separate the cherry beans from the bóia beans [dry beans]. The dry beans are placed immediately on the terrace and the cherry beans are sent to the pulper. Immediately after, the green beans are separated from the ripe beans; the ripe beans are pulped. The green beans are placed on the terrace and later in a drier. The pulped coffee is transferred to the mucilage remover or to the terrace (with honey).

Concern with quality

Production is monitored by two Agronomists, one hired to visit the farm on a regular basis, and the other from the Cooxupé Cooperative. They also monitor the plantations renewal process, which began in 2001.

Investments were made in tractors and agricultural implements, to better manage the coffee. The coffee drying system has a boiler, to make the operation more practical, and which results in temperature uniformity. Building a terrace at a higher level provided more ventilation and better drying, and low incidence of fungi and bacteria.

The producer is a member of the Associação de Produtores do Vale da Grama [Vale do Grama Producers Association] and of the Cooxupé Cooperative. The coffee produced in the farm is certified by Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, a traditional retail company in the fine coffees segment located in Great Britain. During 2005, the farm was classified as a finalist in the 4th Coffee Quality State Contest of the State of São Paulo (the first time it took part in a contest), and as one of the winners of the 7th "Cafés do Brasil" Quality Contest.