My group was tasked with analyzing the making process of each product we’ve analyzed. At the farm level, making begins with the crops that are being grown and managed. Farmers do not just harvest the crops, instead they carefully tend the crop to control the quality of coffee, bananas, and pineapples through practices like selective…
Tag: Abby Santora
So Money Does Grow On Trees
Today we visited Sibö Chocolate for a chocolate history and tasting tour that highlighted the ancient indigenous cacao traditions all the way to modern European-style bonbons. Through this tour, I learned how the value of chocolate has evolved, from a time when cacao beans were so prized they were used as currency, to today, when…
A-Peel-ing Adventures in Sarapiqui
Francini’s farm grows many different tropical fruits and plants from bananas, black pepper, and coconuts to turmeric and much more. As we explored the different crops on Francini’s farm today, I noticed subtle but meaningful differences in how each one is grown and harvested. Bananas, for example, are grown in bunches on tall plants and…
piña cola-DUH!
Pineapples are grown, harvested, and shipped much more quickly compared to coffee since it is very important to export fresh and ripe pineapple to consumers. The pineapple supply chain and industry seems more controlled by large agribusinesses that are focused on fresh fruit export. Coffee, on the other hand, involves more steps and often more…
An A-maíz-ing Time at Life Monteverde
This morning’s visit to Life Monteverde allowed me to see that Tico’s lifestyle is centered around hard work and a respect for nature. Each day involves early mornings and long hours planting and tending crops and animals. Tico farmers also have to face many challenges like climate change, unpredictable weather, and financial pressures from the…
Can’t Be-leaf The Biodiversity
Today’s visit to the cloud forest reserve in Monteverde and discussion with Evelyn Herrera speaking about the economics of conservation, made it clear that conservation, productivity, and sustainability do not always work in harmony. Oftentimes, communities are trying to make a living off the land while also protecting it for future generations, creating competing forces. …
Pretty Views and Many Moo’s
As we drove through the winding roads along the Pacific coast, I noticed a transition in the surrounding landscape and communities. The densely packed, bustling neighborhoods near Heredia gradually gave way to more spread-out homes, open spaces, and small local farms. Alongside this shift in scenery, there was also a noticeable change in language, from…
Brewed Up To Shake It Up
In the coffee supply chain, Cafe Britt focuses mostly in the making, delivery, and service of coffee rather than the planting forcing them to source from local farmers. This allows them to then take the coffee beans and roast the beans themselves, so they can focus more on the branding, distribution, and customer experience of…
A Berry Good Day For Coffee
While visiting Doka to learn about coffee production, I was surprised to learn it takes at least 30 years for a coffee plant’s berries to be ready for harvesting. To me, this long process highlights just how much time, patience, and dedication that goes into producing high quality coffee. Before the visit, I did not…
Spanish? No. Vibes? Sí
My first impression of Heredia is that the city is full of life. Walking through the Central Plaza, I was immediately struck by the vibrant energy that fills the streets. People gather in the square to talk, relax, and enjoy the day, and there’s a strong sense of community in the way locals interact. I’ve…
Find Me in Costa Rica!
¡Hola, I am Abby Santora and I just finished my first year at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering! I am currently majoring in Bioengineering and minoring in Chemistry. At school, I am involved with the club tennis team, club pickleball team, BioMedical Engineering Society, Asian Student Alliance, and Chinese American Student Association….