Bayter Family

Elias and Shady Bayter are brothers and third-generation farmers who operate Finca El Vergel in Fresno, Tolima, Colombia, a 300-hectare estate with nearly 100 hectares under coffee cultivation on the slopes of Nevado del Ruiz. The family pivoted from avocado farming to specialty coffee around 2009–2010, earned Rainforest Alliance certification by 2015, and by 2018 had become pioneers of kOJI and other advanced fermentation processes, growing more than 22 coffee varieties including Pink Bourbon and Geisha. El Vergel is internationally recognized for experimental processing and has commanded record prices at specialty auctions.