We visited several different coffee farms during our trip to Costa Rica. Different coffee plantations use several techniques to ensure high quality of the bean and maximum yield. For example, some companies will allow two trees to grow side by side to save space. I learned that coffee plants are first planted in a pot…
Tag: Christopher Pierre
Dota: Cooperative Magic
Today we visited the Café Privilegios. Café Privilegios is made up of 900 different coffee producers. This means that they receive their coffee beans from 900 individual growers. A large portion of these numbers come from families who decided to invest in the coffee industry. An advantage to this cooperative style is that Café Privilegios…
Technology in Coffee
Today we visited the Instituto del Café de Costa Rica or Icafe. They specialize in research and development methods for providing better quality coffee. Along with technologies that increase yields. While we were touring through their laboratories, we were shown a fungus that grows in rice. This fungus is responsible for combating another fungus that…
Foreigners in Monteverde
Quakers came to Costa Rica in 1951. The work of the Quakers positively affected Monteverde. With the help of the locals, Quakers were able to help the region to thrive. One way in which they achieved this is through helping to preserve the rain forest. Specifically the cloud forest, similar to the one we visited…
Promoting Life in Monteverde
Tico farmers in Monteverde have seen a lot of change over the past few decades. This is especially true for Life Montervede farmer Don Guillermo. Don Guillermo is responsible for helping to run a small farm in Monteverde. He faces many challenges as he nurtures his small family run business. Being a small business they…
Monteverde and Mountainsides
Today we took a bus to Monteverde. For the parts that I was awake, I saw some interesting things. During the ride I noticed a lot of cows as we moved farther away from the central valley. I even saw a couple of horses in their stables. As we continued to progress up the mountainside,…
San Jose.
Both the banana and coffee trading market has effected Costa Rica as a whole. Along with its major city San Jose, which we visited today. Coffee and bananas have been an important part of the Costa Rican economy since the nineteenth century. These industries have helped the Costa Rican economy thrive. This can be seen…
Cafe Britt: A Multifaceted Company
Café Britt is a popular company in Costa Rica. Café Britt specializes in the making of coffee, candy, cookies and various items. Café Britt takes pride in the exportation of their products to various countries. Most Ticos do not drink the coffee of Café Britt. I believe this is the case because the best crops…
Economy of Costa Rica
Over the past few days I have learned a lot about the Costa Rican economy and culture. The more I learn, the more questions I have about Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a country with one of the most free trade agreements in the world. One question I asked myself is why does Costa Rica…
The City of Flowers
I rolled out of bed, grabbed my belongings and headed for the shower. As I open my door, my roommate’s door opens simultaneously. I look up to see almost a near reflection as he stands in the door shirtless with towel in hand. He plans on showering just as I am. We settle it through…
Costa Rica: Sustainibility
Costa Rica is a global leader in sustainability. It produces nearly 93% of its electricity from renewable resources. This is very progressive and remarkable for a society to be able to achieve. As someone from the United States this idea seems nearly impossible for a country with a culture like my own. Costa Rica is…