User:Grancafé/Ospina Coffee Company

Original Article

Ospina Coffee Company is the world’s oldest purveyor of premium coffee, founded in Colombia, South America, by Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez [1] in 1835.

Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was one of Colombia's earliest and most profoundly influential coffee pioneers, with an entrepreneurial spirit and tenacity. He began his quest in 1835, seeking the best lands and terroir for growing coffee within the lush mountains of the province of Antioquia. He established his first coffee plantation there, on the volcanic slopes of Fredonia, Antioquia, where he pursued coffee growing with passion and a scientific interest. As a result of Don Mariano's careful investigations and studies, Colombia began producing some of the best coffees in the world, the Coffea arabica species.

Also an educator, journalist, lawyer, political leader and a statesman, Don Mariano was one of the founders of the Colombian Conservative Party [2] in 1849. He was elected to Congress in 1850 and later, in 1854, he was elected Governor of the State of Antioquia. A few years later, in 1857 he was elected as the 12th President of Colombia [3]. After his presidency, he expanded his coffee enterprise to Guatemala in 1865, and in so doing became one of the first coffee growing pioneers in Central America.

With his vast experience and knowledge about the cultivation of coffee, he devoted himself to promoting and teaching the growing of coffee to the farmers and peasants of Colombia. In 1880 he established the first public University in Colombia (Universidad de Minas) and published his first textbooks about “efficient and effective coffee growing techniques". The nation profited richly from Don Mariano's efforts, research and teachings. His passion, knowledge, vision, tenacity and hard labor facilitated the development of coffee growing into Colombia's main export crop, transforming forever the nation’s economy.

General Pedro Nel Ospina [4], son of Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, furthered the Ospina Coffee family tradition and worked arduously to improve and expand the family’s coffee business and plantations. In 1910 he was appointed Ambassador of Colombia to the United States and thereafter to Belgium. Upon his return to the country, he was elected to congress and later as Governor of Antioquia. Later, in 1922, he was elected as Colombia's 36th President[5]During his administration, he organized the Departments of Education, Health and the Treasury. He created el Banco de la República[6](the Central Bank of Colombia) and advanced critical public works, such as the main national highways and railways systems, dams and bridges, and the crude oil pipelines connecting the mayor oil-fields to the sea ports.

Don Mariano Ospina Vásquez and Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez, both sons of Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, in 1918 summoned the First National Committee of Coffee Growers in Medellín, Antioquia. Don Mariano Ospina Vásquez presided over this First National Committee of Coffee Growers, whose main objective was to prepare the foundational ground and formulate the programs and policies to be enacted by the First National Congress of Coffee Growers.

In 1920, the First National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Bogotá, presided over by Epifánio Montoya, Alfredo Vásquez Cobo and Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez. This congress laid the foundation for the successful organization of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia[7] (English: National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia). [8] The Second National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Medellín in 1927. Two sons of Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez, Rafael Ospina Pérez and Mariano Ospina Pérez [9], were among the representatives of the province of Antioquia to this Second National Congress. As a result of this Congress, the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, was created, with Mariano Ospina Pérez as one of its founding fathers.

Mariano Ospina Pérez, [10] grandson of Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, not only was one of the founders of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, but was later elected as General Director of the Coffee Federation, and served in such capacity from 1930 to 1934. His main objective was to assist, finance, and educate the coffee growers while implementing an aggressive program to penetrate the world market and to successfully capture a substantial share of it.

Under Mariano Ospina Pérez' [11] aegis, the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia successfully consolidated the nation's coffee industry and promoted it in the world markets to great effect. Colombia became the largest producer of prime Coffea arabica coffee in the world. He laid a very solid corporative foundation, and today, the Colombian Coffee Federation congregates and supports over 500,000 independent coffee growers and small farmers.

Mariano Ospina Pérez was elected as the 43rd President of Colombia [12] in 1946. During his administration, Colombia reached the highest level of coffee exports in number of bags and as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP). He was determined to fortify the nation's infrastructure and created Ecopetrol [13] (Colombian Petroleum Company) and Acerias Paz del Río (the country's largest steel mill). He was also committed to social responsibility and, to that effect, he created a financial institution (La Caja Agraria), the Social Security Administration and the Department of Labor to help meet the credit, educational and social needs of blue collar workers, coffee growers, and other small farmers and peasants.

Today, Ospina Coffee Company, the world’s oldest family owned coffee company and purveyor of premium coffee, is the cumulative achievement of five generations of passionate coffee lovers, enthusiast and visionaries. The Company produces five unique "elite coffees", Premier Grand Cru[14] Classé Coffee, Ospina Gran Café, Ospina Presidential Coffee, Ospina Estate Coffee, and Ospina Bambuco Coffee. The prestigious luxury living publication the Robb Report has bestowed the Ospina Coffee Company with The Best of The Best award.

The motto of Ospina Coffee Company states: “Our unique Ospina coffee beans, despite their enviable lineage, were not simply born into distinction, they struggled to attain it!” --Grancafé 03:01, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

History of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia

In August 25, 1920, the First National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Bogotá, presided by Epifánio Montoya, Alfredo Vásquez Cobo and Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez. This congress laid the foundation for the successful organization and establishment of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (English: National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia).

The Second National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Medellín in 1927. Two sons of Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez, Rafael Ospina Pérez and Mariano Ospina Pérez, were among the delegates of the province of Antioquia. Rafael Ospina Pérez presided over this Congress, which created the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.

In 1928, after the Second National Congress of Coffee Growers had created the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, the first regional committee was established as the “Comité de Cafeteros de Antioquia”. Mariano Ospina Pérez was its first President, and the first registered member of the association.

The first Board of Directors of the newly organized Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia assembled in Bogotá, in August 3, 1929. Its first members were Mariano Ospina Vásquez, Alberto Camilo Suárez, Gabriel Ortiz Williamson, Carlos Caballero, Jesús del Corral and Mariano Ospina Pérez, the greatest dignitary in the History of the Federation, for whom the organization of the national coffee industry was one of his most serious and ambitious concerns.

In December of 1930, the Fourth National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Bogotá. Due to the vast knowledge and experience in the coffee industry, acquired running his own coffee business, Mariano Ospina Pérez was summoned by the Minister of Industry, Francisco J. Chaux, and by President Rafael Olaya Herrera to preside over this Congress. Ospina Pérez was elected President of this Fourth Congress. At the adjournment of this Congress, Ospina Pérez was elected, by the unanimous vote of the delegates, as “Gerente de la Federación” (General Director). He served in this position for four years, until 1934.

In the election of members of the Board of Directors in 1954, Mariano Ospina Pérez, who served as President of the Republic from 1946 to 1950, was installed as President of the Board of Directors (of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia). His return to the Federation marked the reappearance of one of Colombia's greatest coffee names in an active role in the industry.

Under Mariano Ospina Pérez' aegis, the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia successfully consolidated the nation's coffee industry and promoted it in the world markets to great effect. Colombia became the largest producer of prime Coffea arabica coffee in the world. He laid a very solid corporative foundation, and today, the Colombian Coffee Federation congregates and supports over 500,000 independent coffee growers and small farmers.

Second Article

Introduction

Ospina Coffee [3] is the oldest coffee company in the world, established in Colombia, by Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez in 1835. Ospina Rodríguez was one of the most influential pioneers of coffee growing in Colombia.[4][5][6] Only the finest and largest Coffea arabica Typica coffee beans, known as "supremos", are shipped to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States, where they are roasted to a medium dark roast and then packaged.[7][8][9][10][11] The Company's motto reads: "Our unique Ospina coffee beans, despite their enviable lineage, were not simply born into distinction, they struggled to attain it!"

The History

Three Colombian presidents were part of this family business, including Mariano Ospina Rodríguez (1857-1861), Pedro Nel Ospina (1922–1926) and Mariano Ospina Pérez (1946–1950).[11] Ospina Coffee is a luxury coffee company, originated in Colombia's volcanic highlands of the Andes, South America. Its founder was Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, who started his coffee business in 1835. His experimental farm at Fredonia, Antioquia served as a model coffee finca (plantation) for Colombia's coffee growers in the late nineteenth century.[12][13] Harvard Professor June Erlick, author of the book "Una Gringa en Bogotá," explains that "Coffee in Colombia was traditionally grown by very small farmers." She says the Ospinas helped to change the way the world viewed coffee. "The Ospina family was the first, or certainly one of the first, to see coffee as a larger crop and business." Colombian President Pedro Nel Ospina, son of Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, took over the business in 1879.[14][11] In 1880, the National Press published the first instruction manual for coffee growing, written by Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, titled “Cultivo del Café: Nociones Elementales al alcance de todos los labradores” (Coffee Growing: Basic notions available to all farmers),[15][16] based on his extensive research and experience. Mariano Ospina Rodríguez dedicated much of his efforts to teaching and to the promotion of useful knowledge.[17] In 1931, a second instruction manual for coffee growers was published under the direction of Mariano Ospina Pérez as General Manager of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.[18] General Pedro Nel Ospina, besides managing his family's private coffee enterprises, greatly contributed to the furthering of the Colombian coffee industry. In 1910, as the Colombian Ambassador to the United States, he highly promoted the nation's coffee industry.[19] Elected president in 1922, he established during his administration the Banco de la Republica (Central Bank) and greatly advanced the national railway system to facilitate and increase the commerce and export of coffee.[20] Colombian president Mariano Ospina Pérez, grandson of Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, also took over the business and later founded the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, organizing the nation's coffee industry and making it one of the leading products produced in the country. As president of Colombia, he was also committed to social responsibility and reform and, to that effect, he created a financial institution (La Caja Agraria), the Social Security Administration, the Department of Labor and the Housing Credit Agency to help meet the credit, educational and social needs of blue collar workers, coffee growers, and other small farmers and peasants.[21] Current Ospina Coffee owner Mariano Ospina states that Mariano Ospina Pérez envisioned the creation of the fictional character Juan Valdez, the TV pitchman with his burro, who came to symbolize gourmet coffee from Colombia.[11][14][22]

The First Coffee Plantations

Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez established his first experimental plantation in 1835, in the municipality of Fredonia, Antioquia.[23][24] After Mariano Ospina Rodríguez and his brother Pastor escaped from prison into exile, they busied themselves with planting coffee and operating a “Scientific and Industrial College” in Guatemala.[25][26] In 1882, Ospina Rodríguez established his first, of several, large scale coffee plantations in the "El Cerro Bravo", in the northern part of Fredonia, Antioquia.[27][28] By 1888, the best known coffee plantations in Antioquia were: “Jonas”, belonging to Mariano Ospina Vásquez, “El Amparo”, belonging to Tulio Ospina Vásquez, “La Caraboya”, belonging to the Barrientos brothers and “Gualanday”, belonging to the heirs of General Rafael Uribe Uribe.[29] These four coffee plantations produced 46% of the coffee grown in Antioquia.[30]

The Enterprise

Far more is done on a coffee plantation than just growing and harvesting the fruit. When coffee cherries ripen, they must be picked almost immediately. The ripe cherries are hand-picked by harvesters and brought into the “edificio del café” (pulpery or processing plant). The next steps are: a) pulping, which is the removal of the beans from its surrounding fruit pulp or outer skin (exocarp), b) washing, c) fermenting, d) rinsing, e) sun-drying and, finally f) the removal of the parchment at the curing mill.[31] Mariano Ospina Rodríguez and his two sons, Mariano and Tulio, organized their mayor coffee processing plants and facilities ("despulpadoras" or “edificios del café”) in “El Cerro Bravo”, of Fredonia, Antioquia. By 1882, the first mechanized pulpers and mills were introduced and operated in these plantations.[32] The Ospina coffee operations (growing, processing and exports to Europe and USA) were all guided and directed by Mariano Ospina Rodríguez until the day of his death, on January 11, 1885, in Medellín. His teachings and instructions found particular successful application in the Ospina Group of coffee “Haciendas”, which in the early part of the XX century included the following plantations: -Jonas, belonging to Mariano Ospina Vásquez, with 400,000 coffee trees, in Fredonia. -El Amparo, belonging to Tulio Ospina Vásquez, with 150,000 coffee trees, in Fredonia. -El Castillo, belonging to Rafael Ospina Vásquez, with 150,000 coffee trees, in Fredonia. -La Carolina, belonging to Pedro Nel Ospina Vásquez, with 150,000 coffee trees, in Yolombó. -Pité, belonging to Tulio Ospina Vásquez, with 100,000 coffee trees, in Fredonia. -Monitos, belonging to Bernardo Ospina Vásquez, with 100,000 coffee trees, in Amagá. -San Cayetano, belonging to Tulio Ospina Vásquez, with 100,000 coffee trees, in Fredonia. -Santa Rita, belonging to Tulio Ospina Vásquez, with 70,000 coffee trees, in Venecia.[33] At the death of Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez, his son Mariano Ospina Pérez inherited several of the coffee plantations, including “El Ranchito” in Medellín, “Monterrey” in Urrao and “Normandía” in el Retiro and, helped his two younger brothers to manage ”El Amparo” in Fredonia and “Zuláibar” in Santa Rosa.[34]

The Ospinas and their Impact on the Colombian Coffee Industry

Mariano Ospina Rodríguez entered the cabinet of President Pedro Alcántara Herrán in 1841, as Secretary of the Interior (1841-1845). Ospina Rodríguez’ ideas and activities in the 1820s and 1830s indicated that he already conceived of technical education as an important instrument for economic development and general social improvement.[35] In August 25, 1920, the First National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Bogotá, presided by Epifánio Montoya, Alfredo Vásquez Cobo and Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez. This congress laid the foundation for the successful organization and establishment of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (English: National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia).[36] The Second National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Medellín in 1927. Two sons of Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez, Rafael Ospina Pérez and Mariano Ospina Pérez, were among the delegates of the province of Antioquia. Rafael Ospina Pérez presided over this Congress, which created the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.[37] In 1928, after the Second National Congress of Coffee Growers had created the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, the first regional committee was established as the “Comité de Cafeteros de Antioquia”. Mariano Ospina Pérez was its first President, and the first registered member of the association.[38] The first Board of Directors of the newly organized Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia assembled in Bogotá, in August 3, 1929. Its first members were Mariano Ospina Vásquez, Alberto Camilo Suárez, Gabriel Ortiz Williamson, Carlos Caballero, Jesús del Corral and Mariano Ospina Pérez, the greatest dignitary in the History of the Federation, for whom the organization of the national coffee industry was one of his most serious and ambitious concerns.[39] In December of 1930, the Fourth National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Bogotá. Due to the vast knowledge and experience acquired by Mariano Ospina Pérez in the coffee industry, as a result of running his own coffee business, he was summoned by the Minister of Industry Francisco J. Chaux and by President Rafael Olaya Herrera to preside over this Congress. Ospina Pérez was elected President of this Fourth Congress. At the adjournment of this Congress, Ospina Pérez was elected, by the unanimous vote of the delegates, as “Gerente de la Federación” (General Director). He served in this position for four years, until 1934.[40][41] In 1954, during the election of members of the Board of Directors (of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia), Mariano Ospina Pérez, who served as President of the Republic from 1946 to 1950, was elected and installed as President of the Board of Directors. His return to the Federation marked the reappearance of one of Colombia's greatest coffee names, in an active role, in the History of Colombia's coffee industry.[23][42]

References

1. ^ The History of coffee in Guatemala, Von Regina Wagner, William H. Hempstead,Cristóbal von Rothkirch, Villegas Editores, Pages 61-69, Bogotá, Colombia, 2001 ISBN 958-8156-01-7 2. ^ Charlotte Observer October 2, 2006 Monday Jeff Elder Pg. 6a, The Insider Who's That With Jeff? See Below.; Colombian Coffee News Percolatin', Jeff Elder 3. ^ The History of coffee in Guatemala, Von Regina Wagner, William H. Hempstead,Cristóbal von Rothkirch, Villegas Editores, Pages 61-69, Bogotá, Colombia, 2001 ISBN 958-8156-01-7 4. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 14, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 5. ^ Colonización Antioqueña en el Occidente de Colombia, James J. Parsons, Page 174, Editorial Corpuraba, Bogotá, Colombia, 1977 6. ^ El Café en la Ecrucijada, Evolución y Perspectiva, Diego Pizano, Editorial Alfaomega, Bogotá, August 2001, Page 29, ISBN 958-682-192-7 7. ^ Robb Report, Best of the Best 2004, Singular Essentials by Jessica Taylor, Volume XXVIII, June, 2004. 8. ^ Schwab, Helen (August 06, 2008). "$75 coffee with your $95 steak, sir?". Charlotte Observer. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/eye/story/74739.html. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 9. ^ Taylor, Jessica (2004). "Best of the Best 2004". Robb Report. http://www.ospinacoffee.com/OspinaEprint.pdf. Retrieved 29 December 2009. Alternate site: ww.robbreport.com 10. ^ "Robb Report Promotion". Robb Report. http://www.robbreport.com/Robb-Report-Promotion. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 11. ^ a b c d Elder, Jeff (March 16, 2008). "The King Of Coffee In Exile; Pet Jaguars, Prison Escapes And A Tragic Kidnapping: How A World Coffee Baron Came To Charlotte". Charlotte Observer. http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/the-king-of-coffee-in-exile-pet-jaguars-prison-escapes-and-a-tragic-kidnapping/. Retrieved 30 December 2009. 12. ^ Brown Gold, The Amazing Story of Coffee, Andres Uribe C., Random House Inc., NY, 1954, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 55-5793. 13. ^ Colonización Antioqueña en el Occidente de Colombia, James J. Parsons, Page 172, Editorial Corpuraba, Bogotá, Colombia, 1977. 14. ^ a b Hispanic, November 2007, Spice; Pg. 19, A Feast For The Senses, Fernandez, Idy 15. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 43, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 16. ^ Historia de Antioquia, Jorge Orlando Melo, Editorial Presencia Ltd, Bogotá, Colombia, November, 1988, Page 226 17. ^ The Ideal of the Practical, Frank Safford, University of Texas Press, 1976, Page 101, ISBN 0-292-73803-X 18. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 43, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 19. ^ Gobernantes Colombianos, Interprint, Ignacio Arismendi Posada, Page 177, Bogotá, Colombia, 1983 20. ^ Gobernantes Colombianos, Interprint, Ignacio Arismendi Posada, Page 176, Bogotá, Colombia, 1983 21. ^ Gobernantes Colombianos, Interprint, Ignacio Arismendi Posada, Page 210, Bogotá, Colombia, 1983 22. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Page 33, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 23. ^ a b Brown Gold, The Amazing Story of Coffee, Andres Uribe C., Random House Inc., NY, 1954, Pg 113, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 55-5793. 24. ^ Historia de Antioquia, Jorge Orlando Melo, Editorial Presencia Ltd, Bogotá, Colombia, November, 1988, Page 226 25. ^ The Ideal of the Practical, Frank Safford, University of Texas Press, 1976, Page 151 ISBN 0-292-73803-X 26. ^ The History of coffee in Guatemala, Regina Wagner, William H. Hempstead, Cristobal von Rothkirch, Villegas Editores, Page 61-69, Bogotá, 2001 27. ^ Colonización Antioqueña en el Occidente de Colombia, James J. Parsons, Page 172, Editorial Corpurabá, Bogotá, Colombia, 1977. 28. ^ Historia de Antioquia, Jorge Orlando Melo, Editorial Presencia Ltd, Bogotá, Colombia, November, 1988, Page 226 29. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 28, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 30. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 13, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 31. ^ The Complete Guide to Coffee, Mary Banks & Christine McFadden, Lorenz Books, New York, 1999 ISBN 0-7548-0611-1 32. ^ Colonización Antioqueña en el Occidente de Colombia, James J. Parsons, Page 174, Editorial Corpurabá, Bogotá, Colombia, 1977. 33. ^ Ospina Hermanos, Fundación Antioqueña para los Estudios Sociales, FAES, Medellín, Colombia, 1984 34. ^ La Vida Ejemplar de Mariano Ospina Pérez, José Alvear, Medellín, Colombia, 1992. 35. ^ The Ideal of the Practical, Frank Safford, University of Texas Press, 1976, page 117 ISBN 0-292-73803-X 36. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 22, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 37. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 22, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 38. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Page 28, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 39. ^ El Café en el Desarrollo de Antioquia, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Editorial Colina, January, 2000, Page 23, ISBN 958-33-1279-7 40. ^ Mariano Ospina Pérez, Un Hombre de Acción y de Principios, Miguel Angel Lozano, Fundación de Estudios Historicos, Misión Colombia, Funadación Mariano Ospina Pérez, Editorial El Globo SA, Bogotá, Colombia, November, 1991, page 61. 41. ^ Informe del Gerente de La Federacion al Sexto Congreso Nacional de Cafeteros, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Junio de 1934, Colombia. 42. ^ El Café en la Ecrucijada, Evolución y Perspectivas, Diego Pizano, Editorial Alfaomega, Bogotá, August 2001, Page 31, ISBN 958-682-192-7

The Company's Motto

"Our unique Ospina coffee beans, despite their enviable lineage, were not simply born into distinction, they struggled to attain it!"

Further Impact

Three Colombian presidents were part of this family business, including Mariano Ospina Rodríguez (1857-1861), Pedro Nel Ospina (1922–1926) and Mariano Ospina Pérez (1946–1950). Mariano Ospina Pérez was one of the founding fathers of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.[8]

Ospina Coffee is a luxury coffee company, originated in Colombia's volcanic highlands of the Andes, South America. Its founder was Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, who started his coffee business in 1835. His experimental farm at Fredonia, Antioquia served as a model finca cafetera (coffee plantation) for Colombian coffee growers in the late nineteenth century.[9][10]

Harvard Professor June Erlick, author of the book "Una Gringa en Bogotá," explains that "Coffee in Colombia was traditionally grown by very small farmers." She says the Ospinas helped to change the way the world viewed coffee. "The Ospina family was the first, or certainly one of the first, to see coffee as a larger crop and business."

The history of Ospina Coffee is intrinsically linked to that of Colombia. It dates back to 1835, only a few years into the creation of the Republic, when Don Mariano Ospina Rodriguez, a coffee pioneere searched the mountains of Antioquia for the place to grow the perfect bean of coffee. He set up his plantation and went on to become president of Colombia in 1857.

His son, Don Pedro Nel Ospina, carried on the tradition, not only by taking the reins of the coffee plantations, but also by taking reins of the country and being elected president in 1922.

Mariano Ospina Rodríguez

Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was one of Colombia's earliest and most profoundly influential coffee pioneers, with an entrepreneurial spirit and tenacity. He began his quest in 1835, seeking the best lands and terroir for growing coffee within the lush mountains of the province of Antioquia. He established his first coffee plantation there, on the volcanic slopes of Fredonia, Antioquia, where he pursued coffee growing with passion and a scientific interest. As a result of Don Mariano's careful investigations and studies, Colombia began producing some of the best coffees in the world, the Coffea arabica species.

Mariano Ospina Rodríguez entered the cabinet of the Herrán administration in 1841, as Secretary of the Interior (1841-1845). Ospina Rodríguez’ ideas and activities in the 1820s and 1830s indicated that he already conceived of technical education as an important instrument foe economic development and general social improvement. --Grancafé 17:00, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

During the later part of the 1830s and in the 1840s, a number of politicians, journalists and scolars railed at New Granada educators and students for their lack of interest in technical or practical education. One of the individuals who expressed most concern was Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, who as Secretary of the Interior dominated the Herrán administration (1841-1845).

Don Mariano Ospina Rodríguez established his first experimental plantation in 1835, in the municipality of Fredonia, Antioquia.[23][24] After Mariano Ospina Rodríguez and his brother Pastor escaped from prison into exile, they busied themselves with planting coffee and operating a “Scientific and Industrial College” in Guatemala.[25][26] In 1882, Ospina Rodríguez established his first, of several, large scale coffee plantations in the "El Cerro Bravo", in the northern part of Fredonia, Antioquia.[27][28] By 1888, the best known coffee plantations in Antioquia were: “Jonas”, belonging to Mariano Ospina Vásquez, “El Amparo”, belonging to Tulio Ospina Vásquez, “La Caraboya”, belonging to the Barrientos brothers and “Gualanday”, belonging to the heirs of General Rafael Uribe Uribe.[29] These four coffee plantations produced 46% of the coffee grown in Antioquia.[30]

The Ospinas and the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia

Mariano Ospina Rodríguez entered the cabinet of President Pedro Alcántara Herrán in 1841, as Secretary of the Interior (1841-1845). Ospina Rodríguez’ ideas and activities in the 1820s and 1830s indicated that he already conceived of technical education as an important instrument for economic development and general social improvement.[35] In August 25, 1920, the First National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Bogotá, presided by Epifánio Montoya, Alfredo Vásquez Cobo and Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez. This congress laid the foundation for the successful organization and establishment of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (English: National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia).[36] The Second National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Medellín in 1927. Two sons of Don Tulio Ospina Vásquez, Rafael Ospina Pérez and Mariano Ospina Pérez, were among the delegates of the province of Antioquia. Rafael Ospina Pérez presided over this Congress, which created the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.[37] In 1928, after the Second National Congress of Coffee Growers had created the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, the first regional committee was established as the “Comité de Cafeteros de Antioquia”. Mariano Ospina Pérez was its first President, and the first registered member of the association.[38] The first Board of Directors of the newly organized Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia assembled in Bogotá, in August 3, 1929. Its first members were Mariano Ospina Vásquez, Alberto Camilo Suárez, Gabriel Ortiz Williamson, Carlos Caballero, Jesús del Corral and Mariano Ospina Pérez, the greatest dignitary in the History of the Federation, for whom the organization of the national coffee industry was one of his most serious and ambitious concerns.[39] In December of 1930, the Fourth National Congress of Coffee Growers convened in Bogotá. Due to the vast knowledge and experience acquired by Mariano Ospina Pérez in the coffee industry, as a result of running his own coffee business, he was summoned by the Minister of Industry Francisco J. Chaux and by President Rafael Olaya Herrera to preside over this Congress. Ospina Pérez was elected President of this Fourth Congress. At the adjournment of this Congress, Ospina Pérez was elected, by the unanimous vote of the delegates, as “Gerente de la Federación” (General Director). He served in this position for four years, until 1934.[40][41] In 1954, during the election of members of the Board of Directors (of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia), Mariano Ospina Pérez, who served as President of the Republic from 1946 to 1950, was elected and installed as President of the Board of Directors. His return to the Federation marked the reappearance of one of Colombia's greatest coffee names, in an active role, in the History of Colombia's coffee industry.[23][42]