María Nilsa Garzón sets coffee auction record with US$ 400 per pound sale

María Nilsa Garzón Díaz, a coffee producer from the Rosas municipality in Cauca, Colombia, set a new record at the ‘Colombia Tierra de Diversidad’ international hybrid auction. Her Castillo variety coffee, processed using the washed method, sold for US$ 400 per pound. The lot was acquired by the firm Banexport S.A. – Café 18 during the Cafés de Colombia Expo 2026.

This price represents a significant milestone for the Castillo variety, which was scientifically developed by Cenicafé. The sale price is more than 100 times the current international market rate for standard Colombian coffee. This achievement follows previous high-value sales in the region, including a Bourbon Rojo variety that sold for US$ 141 per pound in 2025. Garzón, a woman head of household, noted that the proceeds would assist in rebuilding her home after a fire at her farm.