El Mandarino

Dariela Mancía & Roy Hernández

Single Farm Producers – Finca El Mandarino & Finca Guayabina

Zone: Mercedes

Certification: Organic

For Dariela Mancía and Roy Hernández, coffee farming is both a family heritage and a shared life project. Born into coffee-growing families, they each inherited a small parcel of land when they married. Together, they began their journey with just 1.7 hectares, carrying a dream that was far larger than the land they owned.

In the early years, their farms alone could not provide enough income to support their family. Both Dariela and Roy worked full-time jobs while dedicating their evenings, weekends, and every spare moment to caring for their coffee trees and developing specialty coffee micro-lots. Their commitment was strengthened by the support of their parents and siblings, making coffee production a truly family-centred effort built on cooperation, sacrifice, and shared aspirations. In return, they have always sought to support those around them, sharing access to their solar dryers and helping fellow producers bring their coffees to market.

Today, their farms - Finca El Mandarino and Finca Guayabina - cover approximately two hectares at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,250 metres above sea level. They cultivate Parainema, Obata, and Catucaí Amarelo 2L varieties beneath a diverse canopy of shade trees, including pine, mango, banana, plantain, guamo, cuajiniquil, and sweetgum. This rich agroforestry environment supports biodiversity, protects the soil, and contributes to the long-term health of their farms.