Miller Walles, a former sugar cane farmer, transitioned to coffee 21 years ago after purchasing land in Paicol, Huila. The switch brought greater stability to his family. One of nine brothers—seven of whom also grow coffee—Miller began cultivating eight hectares of inherited land.
Starting with infertile soil, Miller, his wife Dadny Salinas, and their son Rivaldo rebuilt the farm from the ground up. Today, his farm La Morelia grows six coffee varieties including Colombia, Caturra, Tabi, Pink Bourbon, and Geisha from Panama. He designated one part of his land as a protected forest reserve to not disturb it's significant biodiversity.
Self-taught through institutions like SENA, United Nations workshops, and the local coffee producers’ association, Miller combines deep knowledge with sustainable practices, such as using organic fungi to combat pests.
Despite the challenges of Nariño’s humid climate, which makes coffee drying difficult, he produces high-quality beans using parabolic dryers and manual methods. He’s currently saving for a mechanical dryer to improve processing regardless of weather. Supporting Miller’s coffee helps fund this essential equipment and furthers his commitment to quality and sustainability.
