Farm Name: "Finca Cual Bicicleta"

Altitude: 1518 masl

Varietals: Catuai, Bourbon, Ihcafe 90, Icatu, Parainema

Farm size: 4 manzanas (3.5 ha)

Harvest : Dec-Apr

Process: Washed and sun-dried

Location: El Trapiche, Chinacla, Marcala, La Paz, Honduras

The community of El Trapiche in Chinacla was historically known for growing sugar cane, giving the town its name after the traditional mill used to grind cane. Years of cultivation left the soil depleted of organic matter. In 1996, Oscar Omar Alonzo began growing coffee on a plot called “El Injerto,” near the Doña Dina waterfall and surrounded by liquidambar trees. After three years of intensive irrigation, he achieved his first successful harvest.

In 2001, encouraged by COMSA manager Rodolfo Peñalba, Oscar transitioned from conventional farming to organic production. At the time, his farm produced about 85,000 pounds of coffee annually. Although he stopped using chemicals, he initially lacked the organic practices needed to sustain production, and yields dropped sharply. Discouraged but determined, Oscar reinvented his farm in 2007 after finding a drawing of a man riding a bicycle uphill. Inspired by the bicycle’s balance and sustainability, he renamed the farm “Cual Bicicleta” (“Which Bicycle”).

Oscar also became known for a local legend he created around a figurine gifted by his cousin from the United States. While authorities were working on a hydroelectrical project in in the area in order to bring electricity to the community, he claimed the figure represented “San Californeo,” a fictional saint who would only reveal himself once the project was completed. The story motivated residents to finish the work, and the figurine eventually gained a small local following. Oscar later named his coffee Cafe CALIFORNEO, standing for “Cafe Limpio, Fuerte, Organico Negociado por Oscar” (“Clean, Strong, Organic Coffee, Negotiated by Oscar”).

Today, Oscar is recognized as a model farmer at COMSA for his strong organic practices and community involvement. He works to protect water sources, restore watershed areas, and reforest the land around local waterfalls. His coffee has also been featured in Son of a Baptist beer by Epic Brewing in Salt Lake City. In March 2017, Oscar won first place in the regional Marcala Cup of Excellence with a Geisha coffee scoring 91.14 points.