Humble Beginnings to Top Coffee Exporter in Peru - Altomayo's Rise to Fame

The Humble Beginnings of Altomayo Coffee

High up in the Andean mountains of Peru lies the city of Moyobamba, known as the "City of Orchids" for its beautiful surroundings. This verdant landscape provides ideal growing conditions for what would become one of Peru's most acclaimed coffee exporters: Altomayo coffee.

Altomayo's origins trace back to 1970 when the company's founders, the Pflucker family, began growing a modest plot of coffee on their family farm. Using traditional techniques passed down through generations, they carefully cultivated the crop by hand.

The outstanding quality of the coffee quickly earned admiration from neighbors and locals who encouraged the Pfluckers to pursue larger-scale production. Heeding this advice, in 1988, Altomayo officially registered as a company focused on exporting premium Peruvian coffee to the global market.

Launching an Export Business from a Pickup Truck

In the early days, the entire export operation was run from the back of a refurbished pickup truck. The Pflucker family transported sacks of green coffee beans to fulfill orders from ports in Chiclayo and Piura. It was challenging work but the company quickly built a reputation for exceptional coffee.

From these humble beginnings, Altomayo captured the attention of international buyers with the unique aromas and flavors of their Peruvian coffee. They began forming partnerships with prominent coffee houses and roasters in Europe and the United States eager to feature the standout offering from Peru.

A Commitment to Quality and Sustainability

As demand grew, Altomayo made significant investments in infrastructure and facilities to support more advanced processing and packing capabilities. But the company never lost sight of its commitment to quality and sustainable farming practices.

They worked closely with local growers to implement systems for tracing coffee lots back to single farms so end customers could appreciate the specific terroir and unique attributes from micro-climates across Peru. Dedicated programs were introduced to promote organic certification and fair trade practices as well.

Becoming Peru's Top Coffee Exporter

Today, Altomayo has established itself as the leading exporter of Peruvian coffee, sourcing beans from over 18,000 small family farms across 13 different regions. State-of-the-art dry mills and processing stations help prepare over 22 million pounds of green coffee for export every year.

The company handles export logistics reaching over 30 different countries. Their experiential visitor center and farm in Moyobamba highlight the history and culture behind Peruvian coffee production for educational tourism.

Key Factors in Altomayo's Rise to Success

Altomayo's growth from humble origins to become an award-winning coffee exporter on the global stage is an inspiration for agricultural entrepreneurs. Their sustained success can be attributed to a few key strategic principles.

Commitment to Quality

By focusing on quality first, Altomayo differentiated itself early on. Rigorous sorting and processing ensured only the finest coffee beans were selected to showcase the distinctive properties of high-grown Peruvian coffee.

Trust and Partnership with Growers

Building trusted relationships with local smallholder farms created a reliable supply chain and allowed Altomayo to implement sustainable practices. Long-term partnerships provided stability for farming communities.

Customer-Focused Approach

Keeping customers and markets in mind, Altomayo tailored offerings to meet demand for traceability and commit to organic and fair trade principles that aligned with consumer values around sustainability.

The Future of Peruvian Coffee Exports

As one of Peru's foremost coffee exporters, Altomayo helped shine a spotlight on the country's exceptional beans. But more growth is still expected for Peruvian coffee exports overall.

Peru is the 9th largest producer of coffee globally but is much smaller in terms of export volume compared to neighbors like Brazil and Colombia who lead the world. Some projections forecast that Peruvian coffee exports could triple in the coming decade.

This represents a massive opportunity, but there are challenges around infrastructure investment, farmer education, and sustainability initiatives that must be addressed to support expansion. Thankfully a bright future is ahead with groups like Altomayo leading the way.

Companies can follow the playbook Altomayo established by focusing on quality, investing in strategic partnerships, and staying true to a vision of sustainability. With this foundation, Peruvian coffee is sure to earn its rightful place among the world's coffee elite in the years ahead.

FAQs

When was Altomayo coffee founded?

Altomayo was founded in 1988 when the Pflucker family officially registered their coffee farming and export business focused on premium Peruvian coffee.

Where does Altomayo source its coffee beans from?

Altomayo sources its coffee beans from over 18,000 small family farms located across 13 different growing regions of Peru.

What makes Altomayo coffee special?

Altomayo coffee is special because of the high altitude origin resulting in strictly hard bean varieties with more sweetness, acidity and aromatic properties that showcase exceptional Peruvian coffee.

Does Altomayo offer sustainably grown coffee?

Yes, Altomayo is committed to sustainability allowing customers to trace coffee lots back to individual farms. They also focus on organic and fair trade certifications to support responsible farming practices.