Nossa Familia is the newest coffee vendor at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market. Their name translates to “Our Family” in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil. Augusto Dias grew up in Brazil on his family’s coffee farm and now lives here in Portland. He started Nossa Familia in order to support a family tradition by importing and distributing coffee from his family’s farm.
Augusto’s great-great grandparents started Fazenda Cachoeira (Waterfall Farm) in 1890 and now, four generations later, are getting ready for their 109th coffee harvest! Everything on the farm is done manually, including planting, handling, harvesting, drying and roasting the beans. The quality of the coffee produced by Fazenda Cachoeira is a result of dedication and care during all coffee production stages, from the selection of the nursery trees to planting and harvesting.
The coffee planted on the farm is 100% Arabica, of the yellow bourbon variety. This rare variety is well known for its exceptional body, profound aromas, and low to non-existent bitterness. The high quality of these beans have landed the farm various awards, and placed Fazenda Cachoeira among the finalists of the Brazil Cup of Excellence Competition in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2004.
Nossa Familia offers coffee certified by Utz Kapeh, which means “good coffee” in a Mayan dialect. The Utz Kapeh Code of Conduct includes standards for recordkeeping, minimized and documented use of agrochemicals on the crops, protection of labor rights, and access to health care and education for employees and their families. Augusto says he is often asked whether his coffee is fair trade. He explains that since the coffee is imported directly from his family’s farm in Brazil, it is not only fairly traded but family traded! At Fazenda Cachoeira, the family has embraced sustainable practices for 120 years. Nossa Familia also donates $.50 of every pound of coffee they sell to local and international organizations they identify with including the Community Cycling Center, Engineers Without Borders and Habitat for Humanity.
At Nossa Familia’s market booth you will find regular, decaffeinated, and organic whole bean and ground coffees. You can also savor steaming cups of Nossa Familia’s delicious and aromatic coffee as you do your market shopping!
Written by Liz Guest, HFM Volunteer, 2008