Back to Juayúa: Scott & Eric’s Pre-Harvest Visit With Carlos Pola
Earlier this month, Scott and Eric returned to El Salvador to spend time with our longtime friend and coffee producer, Carlos Pola, in the lush hills above Juayúa. We've worked with Carlos for over six years, but still every visit with him is a master class in innovation, ecological thinking, and what true direct trade looks like in practice.
Unlike most of our visits, this trip was not about cupping fresh lots or choosing coffees for the coming year. Harvest has not yet begun. This trip was about relationships, transparency, and solving problems together before they happen.
A Farmer Who Thinks Like an Ecologist
If you know anything about Carlos, you know he is not your typical coffee producer. His farms are living laboratories where regenerative agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and soil science all intersect.
One of the most fascinating parts of walking the farms with Carlos is seeing how intentionally he works with fungi, not as something to fight but as a symbiotic partner. The core of his approach is the cultivation and propagation of mycorrhizal fungi, which form mutualistic relationships with coffee plant roots. These fungi increase nutrient absorption, improve soil structure, and enhance the plant's overall resilience.
By building a thriving underground ecosystem rich in beneficial fungal networks, Carlos is reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and promoting long-term soil health. He is showing that healthier soils create healthier plants and ultimately better coffee. His philosophy is as forward-thinking as it is grounded in deep ecological respect.
Radical Transparency and Profit Sharing Through Blockchain
Over the past two years, we have also worked alongside Carlos to bring Bext360’s blockchain-based traceability platform onto his farms. Every step of the process, from cherry delivery to drying to milling, is logged, timestamped, and visible to everyone in the supply chain, including Carlos. This level of transparency helps eliminate blind spots and ensures clean, verifiable data from farm to roastery.
One of the most important aspects of this system is profit sharing. For every bag sold, we share $1 with Carlos at the end of our sales cycle. By tracking each lot with blockchain accuracy, we can verify the exact value generated throughout the supply chain and ensure that Carlos receives a clear and equitable share. This model creates a more collaborative and financially fair partnership, one where the producer benefits directly from the transparency and accountability built into the system.
For producers, this is transformative. For roasters like us, it reinforces accountability and efficiency. And for customers like you, it provides an honest, unbroken line back to the source.
Carlos embraced the program immediately, and his commitment to data-driven, regenerative agriculture makes him one of the most exciting partners we are working with.
Why Visit Before Harvest? Because Direct Trade Is More Than Buying Coffee
You might wonder why we flew to El Salvador months before we can even taste the new crop.
Last season, Carlos experienced significant logistical delays moving his coffee from farm to mill to exporter. These delays pushed shipping windows, slowed down payment cycles, and created ripple effects throughout the supply chain.
We were not going to wait until next harvest to address these challenges.
We went now to sit face to face, walk through each stage of the chain, and problem-solve together.
This is what real direct trade looks like. Not simply buying a lot every year, and not just dropping in for photos. It means engaging in the unglamorous operational work that producers handle every day and supporting them in building a more resilient system.
The Heart of Our Work: Relationships at Origin
Trips like this remind us why we do what we do. The most meaningful part of Queen City’s sourcing philosophy has always been the relationships, real friendships sustained over years, not transactions.
Carlos has become family to QC. His farms embody curiosity, courage, and stewardship.
Partnering with him through good seasons, tough logistical challenges, and constant innovation is exactly why we are committed to long-term, equitable sourcing.
We could not be more excited for his upcoming harvest. Even more than that, we are grateful for the shared vision, shared values, and shared work taking place long before a single cherry is picked.
