Tolima (central Andes; often under-discussed but huge)

Farming system

Smallholders across steep terrain; conflict history in parts of Tolima shaped infrastructure and market access (this matters for how many intermediaries appear).

Processing reality

Predominantly washed; drying is frequently the bottleneck (rain variability).

Supply chain + finance

In many areas, more reliance on aggregators/purchasing points vs direct exporter relationships, unless a program is active.

As a buyer, “Tolima” quality is strongly correlated with the specific partner’s field QC + drying support, more than with the name itself.