Honduras | Katia Duke | Natural

Katia Duke’s San Isidro farm, located near Ruinas de Copán, Honduras, has been in her family for generations, producing traditional Honduran coffee. After the devastating la roya leaf rust epidemic in 2012, which wiped out much of the crop, Katia reevaluated their farming methods. To better understand the specialty coffee industry, she became a certified barista and roaster, eventually opening her own coffee shop to showcase her family’s Honduras coffee.

Determined to grow specialty coffee for export, Katia convinced her father to let her manage plots of land, and her innovative approach has since yielded great success. Despite initial resistance from workers who doubted her as a female farmer, Katia built a strong, respectful team and earned recognition in the coffee world.

Beyond her achievements in coffee production, Katia has become a community leader, spearheading projects like building a school and supporting local nutrition programs. Her success demonstrates that, in a male-dominated environment, a woman can thrive as a leader using coffee as her platform. The Catuai and Obatá lot from San Isidro, processed naturally, is a testament to her dedication to Honduran coffee.