Tobacco Business

[ 30 ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ MARCH / APRIL | 21 ] Despite being forced to move due to political unrest and different diseases impacting crops over the years, tobacco has remained a key to the Plasencia family’s overall success throughout various generations. For Nestor Andrés, the importance of tobacco in his family’s success and business stays at the top of mind in all he and the company set out to do. Nestor Andrés attributes much of his family’s success to the great team the family has built over the years. Without these skilled and talented individuals, Nestor Andrés says that he does not believe the company or the Plasencia fam- ily would be in the great position it is today. “For me, the most important of all the facets of this won- derful industry is the tobacco growing,” he says. “It is in the fields where the magic begins. I like to refer to this as the triangle of success where, starting with soil that’s full of nutrients together with microclimatic factors such as optimal temperatures, relative humidity, precipitation regime and wind speed, we add the most important factor: the know-how of our people. It is the human factor that determines our success because it is there where years of experience and passion for what is done determine what the best seeds are that we can plant. It is our people’s knowl- edge that determines when those plants have to be irrigated, when those leaves have reached the ideal maturity to be harvested and can be transferred to the curing barns and then are ready to go to the fermentation rooms.” He adds, “It is the relationship with the land that makes it possible to obtain an excellent-quality tobacco. With those leaves that we were able to save from all the chal- lenges over the years we were able to create some blends for all those passionate cigar lovers to enjoy. To all who are reading this article: If you have not had the opportu- nity to visit a tobacco field, do so, because I assure you that it will be a unique experience.” The changing climate, diseases and pests all remain the biggest challenges to the Plasencias’ tobacco growing oper- ation today. “In the ʼ80s, we had a heavy infestation in our fields where my father lost everything he planted for many years due to a fungus called blue mold,” says Nestor Andrés. Thanks to the development of improved varieties and better practices, we have been able to continue growing. I also remember that about seven years ago a tornado destroyed all the curing barns that we had on a farm. It is because of all of this that we decided many years ago to diversify the risk by growing in many different places. For example, in Nicaragua, we grow in Jalapa, Estelí, Condega and Ome- tepe. In Honduras, we also plant in different places such as Jamastran, Olancho and Talanga.” After years of making cigars for other manufacturers, the Plasencia family launched their own premium cigar brand in 2017. Since its launch, the Plasencias have produced highly rated cigar lines, including Alma de Fuego, Plasencia Reserva Original and the Alma Fuerte Sixto I.