Over the past few weeks, I have been fortunate enough to explore the beautiful country of Costa Rica. Each plantation offered new insights regarding what goes into the planning process behind the Costa Rican supply chain. It was interesting to be able to follow the entire supply chain, from the coffee cherries being picked at…
Tag: Declan Brown
Holy Cacao! A Sweet Trip to Sibö
Today, we visited Sibö Chocolate to get a closer look at the lifespan of chocolate. From the ceremonial cacao drinks to today’s sweet and diverse treats, chocolate has always been with us. We began our tour with the introduction of historian Julio Fernandez Amón and our presenter, journalist George Soriano, the two founders of Sibö…
Field of Dreams, Powered by Bananas
Today, we visited several small family farms that grow tropical crops like bananas, black pepper, and sugarcane. Although the farms we explored were not as large as the plantations we’ve recently toured, they were still incredibly impressive. The primary consumers of these crops are local residents. The local focus highlights the community’s drive to remain…
Monkeys in the Trees, Sweat on My Knees, Where’s That Jungle Breeze
Today, we visited an organic Costa Rican pineapple plantation in Sarapiqui. This was the second fruit plantation we toured. However, the pineapple plantation was nothing like the strawberry plantation we visited earlier on the trip. The strawberry plantation was located at a higher, cooler elevation, while the pineapple plantation was much lower and hotter. One…
A Latte to Think About at Life Monteverde
Today, we took a trip to Life Monteverde, a coffee farm and sustainability center that gave us a closer look at what the life of a Tico farmer looks like. It is truly amazing to see how much passion the Tico farmers have for the land they work on. It is very important to every…
Cloudy With a Chance of Monkeys
Today, we visited the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and were reminded of the importance of conserving the forest and protecting nature. As we reached the Monteverde Cloud Reserve, it looked as if we were in another country. There was very little visibility while up that high. We began our hike on a guided tour, where…
From Motion Sickness to Mountain Serenity
Today was a much more scenic day compared to the others. As we left the Central Valley and headed toward Monteverde, we were able to see all of Costa Rica’s lush landscape. On our way up to Monteverde, we passed a variety of different communities, each with its own attractiveness. It became very obvious how…
Brewed Awakening: A Day At Café Britt
Today, I was woken up by the sound of a lizard climbing across the metal gutter right above my room. It acted as a nice, natural alarm clock to start the day. We then made our way to Café Britt, where we were offered an entirely different perspective on Costa Rican coffee production. Instead of…
A Brew-tiful Day in Costa Rica
Visiting both the Doka Coffee Plantation and a local strawberry farm offered me an insightful look into the differences in the production of certain crops. It is obvious that Costa Rica utilizes its environment to its fullest extent. Doka takes full advantage of the environment being located in a high-altitude, volcanic region with plenty of…
City of Flowers
When I arrived in Costa Rica, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I haven’t had many opportunities to explore other countries, especially not one as unique as Costa Rica. One of the first things I noticed after stepping outside the airport was the abundance of lush, green grass throughout the area. Rather than paving…
Bound for Costa Rica
Hello! My name is Declan Brown, and I just finished my first year at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. I am planning to major in Accounting and Finance with a minor in Economics. I am a member of the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, Men’s Rugby Club at Pitt, and Panther Equity. In…