The root of the entire coffee and banana industries can be found in the fields. After touring several coffee farms and the Dole banana plantation, my biggest takeaway is that the growing process is very tedious and requires careful, yet physically demanding work. I’ve learned the steps of growing both crops, from prepping the land…
Tag: Anthony Adams
More than a Tree
Since bananas require fewer steps from farm to being ripe for consumption, the supply chain of bananas is naturally less complicated than that of coffee. Where coffee needs to be grown by a farmer, sent to a roaster for roasting, then shipped to the retailer for sale to the consumer, bananas only need to be…
Coffee and Cajuelas
In a country that has seen substantial growth in in the areas of technology and tourism, we need to remember the profound impact of the coffee industry in Costa Rica’s economy. The root of all of the benefits about Costa Rica’s coffee trade is the stimulation of the economy. International and domestic coffee trade has…
Foreign Salvation
While not being natives to the land, the Quakers helped preserve massive amounts of rainforest in Costa Rica and continue to do so today. The Quakers saw what happens in the US when traces of nature aren’t preserved or taken care of, and they couldn’t allow that to happen to a place as beautiful as…
Farmer for a Day
Since farming and agriculture is so crucial to Costa Rica’s economy, it is essential to understand the lives and personalities of the nation’s farmers. Since most people who tend the fields are Nicaraguans, the Tico farmers are often running a farm or plantation or have a higher position than simply a field worker. Like Don…
The Gang Goes to Monteverde
In a short, four hour drive from Heredia to Monteverde, I saw three different sides of Costa Rica. From Heredia to the beach, I felt the air get heavier with moisture and saw fewer people out and about on account of the heat. The buildings were more spaced out near the beaches compared to Heredia,…
No Address…No Problem!
As a result of the banana and coffee trade in Costa Rica, certain cities were left evidence of this movement of goods. San Jose, for example, is the capital city of Costa Rica but doesn’t give the appearance of a typical capital. Instead of extensive vertical development, San Jose served as the town of the…
Built on Brand
In listening to a presentation from a Café Britt employee and speaking with my host family, I came to the conclusion that Café Britt’s recent strong sales can be attributed to the strength of their brand name. They essentially sell the name on the bag more than they do the actual product. The Costa Rican…
Why, Ticos?
Culture evolves in all countries over time, and Costa Rica is no different. In fact I have noticed several commonalities in the country that can be understood by looking a little bit closer. For example, Costa Rica is a country with many different types of music which led me to wonder why a country where…
Power to the People
From being in the classroom to a tour of Heredia and then returning to the classroom, I noticed one major pleasantry: how natural everything is in Costa Rica. I noticed how our time in the classroom was gifted with open windows and raised blinds. I saw how the market in Heredia was open air with…
Costa Rican Sustainability
Hello everybody, I’m Anthony Adams from Downers Grove, IL, and I will be traveling to Costa Rica for the Pitt Plus3 Program in just a few days. I am interested in studying Supply Chain with a certificate in International Business in the CBA. I enjoy following sports and spending time with my friends, especially in…
Meet Plus3 Costa Rica 2019!
Welcome to the Costa Rica Plus3 Study Abroad Program! Professor Ryan Teeter and Brandi Gongaware, Admissions and Recruiting Coordinator, are traveling to the Costa Rica Central Valley, Monteverde, and Tarrazu with 24 College of Business Administration and Swanson School of Engineering students from May 4th-May 18th. In addition to numerous cultural experiences, the trip will…