Betsabeth Alvarez, a 98-years-old Afro-Colombian farmer, takes a break during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. Betsabeth Alvarez, a 98-years-old Afro-Colombian farmer, takes a break during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
Dried cacao beans are seen poured into a jute bag in artisanal chocolate manufacture in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. Dried cacao beans are seen poured into a jute bag in artisanal chocolate manufacture in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian farmer cuts cacao pods from a tree during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian farmer cuts cacao pods from a tree during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian farmer separates pulpy cacao seeds from a cacao pod during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian farmer separates pulpy cacao seeds from a cacao pod during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
Betsabeth Alvarez, a 98-years-old Afro-Colombian farmer, walks amongst the trees on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. Betsabeth Alvarez, a 98-years-old Afro-Colombian farmer, walks amongst the trees on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
Rigoberto Balanta, an Afro-Colombian farmer, rolls the raw cacao paste with hands into balls, used for hot chocolate preparation, in artisanal chocolate manufacture in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. Rigoberto Balanta, an Afro-Colombian farmer, rolls the raw cacao paste with hands into balls, used for hot chocolate preparation, in artisanal chocolate manufacture in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian farmer separates pulpy cacao seeds from a cacao pod during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian farmer separates pulpy cacao seeds from a cacao pod during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
Betsabeth Alvarez, a 98-years-old Afro-Colombian farmer, opens a cacao pod with a machete during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. Betsabeth Alvarez, a 98-years-old Afro-Colombian farmer, opens a cacao pod with a machete during a harvest on a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.
A raw cacao paste, used for making balls for hot chocolate preparation, is seen stored in a box in artisanal chocolate manufacture in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. A raw cacao paste, used for making balls for hot chocolate preparation, is seen stored in a box in artisanal chocolate manufacture in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia.

Cacao farm in Colombia

Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia – December 2021

Betsabeth Alvarez, a 98-years-old Afro-Colombian farmer, together with her sons and daughters, runs a traditional cacao farm in Cuernavaca, Cauca, Colombia. Although cacao has been grown in Colombia for centuries, Colombian cacao production is focused primarily on the domestic market in which the demand for drinking chocolate plays a crucial part. Cacao trees have been cultivated mainly in small mixed crop farms, operated on sustainability principles. With the global growth of chocolate popularity and the Colombian post-conflict economic development in recent years, Colombian farmers are gradually increasing their cacao production and chocolate export.

Post comment

no comments yet