San Rafael Farm To reach the San Rafael farm, you have to take the highway that connects Santa Ana with Sonsonate and turn at the 81.5km, to the former road to San José de la Majada and after 3.5km more you arrive to this amazing cooperative.

The farm has 90.3 Ha and 85 Ha are grown with coffee and the rest represent access roads and other infrastructure. The altitude range of this farm goes from the 4,590 to 5,478 feet. Temperature ranges between 16ºC to 27ºC (60.8ºF to 80.6ºF) normally during the day. Annual rainfall averages 2,200 mm. Shade is provided by Ingas, fruit and other mountain trees. Average production is nearly 1,900 60kg bags of Strictly High Grown and Gourmet coffee. San Rafael’s cooperative coffee has been exported under the Los Naranjos brand name for many years; the cooperative was founded April 24th, 1980 as part of the Salvadoran land reform but the farm was initially planted back in1936 by the Meza family. Nowadays, there are 27 members. Cooperative’s social benefits reach some 500 people, which obtain from the cooperative different services such as secure jobs, houses (at least 37 houses have been built for their members and other people), drinking water, energy services, firewood, and telephone access, school transportation service for almost 30 students, medical services and transportation to the nearest health unit in case of severe illness.

San Rafael Los Naranjos Coop has been certified since 2000 to 2002 under the Rainforest Alliance seal; currently they are waiting a field visit to obtain for third time this certification. They are also turning their plantation into organic and this is the third year in transition, as they hope to be certified soon