11/07/2026
About Costa Rica Rio Negro Natural 🩵
We taste chocolate, blackberry, grape
Hacienda Rio Negro has made environmental stewardship a central part of its coffee production. The farm is a whopping 1,813 acres; this includes 815 acres of protected natural forest and more than 90 acres dedicated to reforestation. Amongst the coffee trees, extensive plantings of native shade trees provide habitat and help regulate temperature and water. Located beside La Amistad National Park, the farm’s conservation efforts help protect the surrounding ecosystem. Rio Negro was also the first farm in Costa Rica to receive Rainforest Alliance certification in 2001. Sustainable practices include annual soil testing to minimize fertilizer use, terraced coffee fields and drainage systems to reduce erosion, and a hydroelectric generator that powers the coffee mill. The mill also uses coffee parchment as biomass fuel, reducing the need for wood.
The farm also plays an important role in supporting its workers and the surrounding community. Hacienda Rio Negro employs about 50 full-time workers and provides housing, clean spring water, financial assistance, savings programs, and access to low-cost loans. Workers and their families have access to an on-site medical clinic with a doctor and dentist, as well as a daycare for children. The farm supports the local school by providing supplies and uniforms for workers’ children. Together, these efforts make Rio Negro not only a coffee-producing operation but a force for positive impact.
