Gladys Bedoya

“Between Furrows and Dreams”

Amid the vibrant green of the El Encanto neighborhood, in the mountains of Apía, Risaralda, blooms Finca La Palestina, a corner of hope and dedication where every coffee bean tells a story of love for the land. Founded more than 40 years ago, this farm has been the legacy of a coffee-growing family that has planted not only coffee but also values, tradition, and pride.

The heart of this story is Mrs. Gladys Bedoya, a wise, strong woman with a passion for the countryside. The daughter of Rey Bedoya, an Antioquian coffee grower who settled in the Coffee Triangle, Gladys inherited from her father a deep respect for the land, the tenacity of a farmer, and a strong sense of community.

Gladys never left the farm. Every tree, every sprout has been planted, cared for, and watched over with patience by her attentive eyes. Today, with 13,000 trees at an altitude of 1,650 meters, she grows a coffee that tells stories in every cup. Her process is meticulous: uniform harvesting at the optimal ripening point and a 36-hour natural fermentation that enhances the complexity and sweetness of the bean.

But beyond the numbers and processes, what makes Gladys’ coffee special is her commitment to the land, her love for what she does, and the pride of keeping a heritage alive. For her, each harvest is an offering to her history, a love letter to the coffee farm, and a tribute to her father, who showed her that greatness can reside in every bean.

Thanks to her leadership and vision, the farm has improved its agricultural practices, taking care of the soil, water, and biodiversity around it. Her coffee, marketed under the name Reysus — Dulzura y Sabor, is a tribute to her father, and in every cup carries the soul of a family that proudly lives its coffee tradition.

Today, Finca La Palestina not only cultivates one of the most special coffees in the municipality of Apía but also cultivates stories, dreams, and memories, always guided by the kind and steady heart of Mrs. Gladys.