Colombian farmers find in Cardamom a way to diversify their crops

Cardamom Plantations in Valparaiso, Colombia

Valparaiso, Located in the southwest of Antioquia, is a town known mostly for its coffee plantations, Over the years it has become the epicenter for cardamom plantations in colombia due to its climate and fertile lands. and its been a blessing for the farmers, first of all, cardamom is one of the most prized spices in the market, as you have read in our website. it has helped the farmers to diversify their crop, making them less dependent on the coffee plantations and thus, providing a more stable income for the community.

Cardamom plants, approximate age of 6 months

Very few people know that Cardamom has been grown in Colombia for more than thirty five years, however, lack of demand and Guatemala's large scale production gave way for coffee to reclaim its ground and take over the few cardamom plantations that were mostly located around the Quindio, Nariño, Antioquia regions.

Alonso, Manager of the Cooperative Farmers project talking to Cardamom growers

About ten years ago cardamom buyers from arab countries came to Colombia looking for cardamom once again, and they asked Alonso Munera, a business man whose past endeavors were focused on the fragrance sector and the fresh fruit market , he knew cardamom from his fragrance background and saw the opportunity to get into the spice market, without thinking it twice, he started along with many farmers what is today the Cooperative of valparaiso.