At the highest peak of the mountains in Pacheco, Tepanguare, Kukurucho Farm is the personal and professional expression of Rony Gámez—a second-generation coffee producer from Marcala, La Paz, and far more than just a farmer. Rony is a cornerstone of the coffee community in La Paz, leading the team at Café Raga, where producers are supported through education, technical guidance, and a shared pursuit of quality and consistency.

What began over a decade ago as a vision to create a research-focused farm has grown into a living platform for collaboration. Kukurucho is not only where Rony produces his own coffees, but also an isolated seed bank farm—carefully positioned at the mountain’s peak, known locally as a “Cucurucho”. From this land, producers are able to diversify with confidence, planting varieties that have been studied, tested, and nurtured on the farm.

Kukurucho’s five hectares are planted with Typica, Geisha, Pacamara, Pacas, Yellow Catuai, and SL-28. Each variety is approached with intention, from cultivation through to processing. Rony works across washed, honey, and natural methods, always guided by cup quality. A skilled cupper himself, he uses sensory evaluation as both a learning tool and a way to teach others. For this Pacamara lot, he chose a washed process—selecting only fully ripe cherries, gently pulping without water, and slowly drying the coffee over 25 days—revealing a cup defined by clarity, sweetness, and quiet depth.

Rooted in collaboration, education, and fairness, Rony’s hope is for greater recognition of small producers and more direct access to international markets. Through Café Raga and Kukurucho, he continues to build not just better coffee, but a stronger, more connected farming community.