Cacao Farms

We believe in working with nature, taking traditional Maya and Panamanian farming practices, and adding “cacao science.”

We analyze the soil, the rainfall, the final products. We work with specific varietals and add modern machinery and technology to help our farmers work more efficiently.

We believe in having a balanced eco-system in all our farms, with inter-cropping, shade trees, and local wildlife. There is no room for monoculture in our farms.

Belize

Panama

Cacao Varietals In Belize

In Belize, our farms are planted predominantly with the Trinitario cacao variety (with a small percentage of Criollo). The Trinitario is a meticulously hand-grafted hybrid from the (more challenging to grow) Criollo known for its fine flavor chocolate and Forastero, a hardier cacao tree that is more resistant to weather and disease. The Trinitario cacao variety was specifically chosen because it is the best of both worlds. It is a durable tree with high production that produces high-quality beans with all the traits necessary to produce fine flavor chocolate.

Our unique “Peini” blend offers deep notes of nuts, tropical fruits, vanilla, and coconuts.

Columbia Cacao Farm

Our Columbia cacao farm was the first farm we acquired in Belize in 2016. It was already an operating cacao farm with some mature, producing trees, but the entire farm was not planted or being farmed by the previous owner. In the years since we acquired the farm, we cleaned, designed and fully planted the entire farm with the most in-demand varietals from our own nursery. These new “babies” are now reaching production.

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Crique Jute Cacao Farm

This cacao farm plays a critical role in our cacao farming and processing operation. The farm is located on beautiful rolling hills and was more like the jungle when we acquired it. We have since cleared and planted the entire farm with in-demand cacao varietals. This farm is also where our centralized cacao processing depot is located. All of our wet cacao beans are processed in this facility in a two-week fermentation and drying process, before heading to our chocolate factory only a few miles away. Our cacao sapling nursery is also located on this farm. This is where we sow and grow our cacao saplings before transferring them to the farms.

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San Jose Cacao Farm

This four-year-old cacao farm is located in the dense jungle in the area of Na lum Ca and San Jose Area. A large, 21.04-hectare farm, with a high producing climate, our cacao seedling adapted well and now thrive on the hilly slopes under rich timber tree shade. With over fifteen thousand cacao trees now reaching production, this farm will provide a large percentage of our raw cacao for many years to come.

The farm is maintained and cleaned by our Team of passionate local cacao farmers that have been trained in the best practices in cacao farming.

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Flavio Cacao Farm

Located in the San Pedro Columbia Area, Flavios Farm is a 12.14-hectare farm that has 8,500 cacao trees, most of which were planted in 2017. It is only a five-minute drive away from the village through an existing farm road, and it spans across flat terrain with a hill on the northern end.

On this farm, we implemented a 12 by 12 feet planting pattern, strategically designed to increase production and reduce the chances of disease. In 2021 we harvested the first ripe cacao pods from this farm and production will steadily increase for the next 25 years.

Vicente & Gabriel Cacao Farm

Also Located in the San Pedro Columbia village area, these two 12.14 hectare farms were the most recent acquisitions by the company. These virgin, never before farmed pieces of land have amazing, lush vegetation, natural water sources, and rich soil, just perfect for producing some of Belize's best fine flavor cacao.

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Rambala Cacao Farm

In 2021 we acquired our first cacao farm in Panama, located in Chiriqui Grande.

For almost 100 years, this part of the country was a hive of activity and commerce when one of the world’s largest banana companies, United Fruit Company, operated 24,000 hectares of land and employed thousands of local workers.

All these workers needed housing, food, supplies, transportation, etc., so the trickle-down effect was huge on the local economy.

Our new 62.5-hectare farm will be a first step in bringing work, opportunities, and investment capital back into the community.

Already we see the green shoots of our impact as local supply companies are stocking up on tools and equipment that our farming team requires. In addition, we have rented housing for our workers. They are eating at the local fondas (typical native outside diners). The word is spreading of the work we have started and the opportunities coming.