Proud Mary's connection to the Santa Barbara region of Honduras began all the way back in 2012 when we were introduced to a small group of producers situated around the town of Peña Blanca, close to the shores of the stunning Lake Yojoa. More than a decade later, that group of producers has grown in number, and our relationships have deepened. Ovidio “Machete” Gomez was among the members of that initial group. Ovidio is a man of few words, but hidden beneath his gruff exterior (often with a machete in hand), he is a passionate soul who cares deeply for the land and his community. Parainema is a variety developed by Instituto Hondureño del Café (IHCAFE) to produce high-quality coffees and resist coffee leaf rust and other diseases. Grown at a high altitude in the misty microclimate around Lake Yojoa, Ovidio’s natural Parainema is wild and expressive.