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The inspiring story of Jaime Freire and his love for Ecuadorian cocoa
Posted On 28 Jul 2023
Scientific investigations carried out in the Upper Amazon, in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, in Palanda, revealed the oldest vestige of the origin of cocoa. Ecuador is the cradle of cocoa, and also the cradle of a story of perseverance and passion that has changed the lives of many people. We are talking about Don Jaime Freire, the man who became the “dad of the cocoa trees.”
Jaime Freire was born into a humble family, surrounded by nature and the traditions of his region. From an early age, he showed a deep love for the land and a desire to help his community. In his youth he discovered his true vocation: the cultivation of cocoa. Jaime and his wife Paulina welcomed us in their company’s laboratory, the place where alchemy and magic are produced. We had the privilege of tasting cold cocoa tea, hot cascarilla infusion and countless combinations, aromas , flavors and textures of freeze-dried fruits and medicinal herbs, the result of various research and production processes, all the charismatic staff present surprised us with a new fact or curiosity about this wonderful world where nothing is wasted.
Cocoa, known as “the food of the gods”, is an ancestral crop, the history of Ecuador records two great “booms”, but diseases in plantations such as witches’ broom and monilla, drastically affected production. The most valued variety of this product is known as the “arriba fine aroma cocoa” whose yellow pod differs from another more common one with a red rind. Jaime had the initiative to recover knowledge associated with cocoa by leading initiatives for the revitalization of the cocoa industry, one of which is the “Emprende cacao” program that allows knowing from start to finish the tricks to start with a minimum budget, a business of base in this industry. This is how it has trained more than three thousand entrepreneurs. Always generous, his motto is to teach everything he knows. Another initiative is the “Cocoa goes to school” program, which aims to teach students how to recognize and differentiate food from sweets.
Cocoa production is currently experiencing a renaissance. Farmers adopt new farming techniques and reap prolific, high-quality crops. If this trend continues, the families associated with the crops will see their income and quality of life increase significantly. Cocoa can become the backbone of the local economy. Jaime travels the territory sharing his knowledge with local producers. In each meeting, he transmits technical knowledge, stories and traditions related to the cultivation of cocoa, thus enriching the heritage legacy of the community. But Jaime Freire’s true legacy goes beyond numbers and earnings. The most important merit of him is to restore hope to people.
He inspires a generation of young farmers to believe in themselves and the potential of their land. He reminds them that they can overcome any obstacle and build a prosperous future for themselves and their children. His story has transcended borders and has become an inspiring example for those looking to make a difference in their communities. For Jaime there are two kinds of people: “on the one hand, those who cry and on the other, those who sell handkerchiefs, we must learn to sell handkerchiefs” Jaime Freire reminds us that, with passion, determination and the desire to help others, we can transform the world around us.
By Gabriela Ordonez
