Today was our last day in Costa Rica. While I’m very sad to be leaving, I’m also excited to see my family and friends back home. Throughout the trip I learned a lot about the different industries in Costa Rica, mainly coffee, and the designing and launching of it. Firstly, coffee producing starts at the…
Tag: Ian Anderson
Exploring San Jose!
Today we visited San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. We saw both the National Museum of Costa Rica and the National Theater, both of which were in my Costa Rican bucket list. San Jose has a population of over 333,000 residents, making it the largest city in the country. Additionally, with an elevation of…
Exploring Costa Rica’s Fruitful Fields: Insights from Banana and Pineapple Plantations
Today we visited both a banana and a pineapple plantation. It was very interesting learning about the methods the companies use to produce their respective products. In Costa Rica, the supply chains of bananas, pineapples, and coffee exhibit both similarities and differences in terms of complexity and reach. First, pineapples and bananas are produced year-round,…
Sweet & Sustainable: Exploring Costa Rica’s Chocolate & Eco Businesses
Today, we visited Sibö Chocolate and learned all about the history of chocolate, as well as how it is produced in Costa Rica. Then we went to Riverside, a restaurant that grows all of its ingredients itself and has a zero carbon footprint. Lastly, we once again visited Latin University of Costa Rica for a…
Community Connections: Exploring Monteverde
Today we had the privilege of visiting a local school in Monteverde and help paint their fence. Not only did we help to improve their school, but we made a positive impact in many kids lives. It felt extremely fulfilling to be able to help these kids. At the end of the project, a little…
Sustainability and Conservation in Costa Rica
Today we had our earliest wake-up time yet: 5:30! It was well worth it, however, as we got the entire morning to explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. While there, we saw a variety of birds, insects, and other animals. It was amazing to explore such a different climate from what I’m used to, and…
Monkeying About in Monteverde
Today we drove to Monteverde and were able to see some monkeys on the way! While driving through the more rural parts of Costa Rica, I noticed a lot less homes and more businesses. There were very few houses as we got further away from the central continental divide which goes to show how densely…
Marketing Strategies of Café Britt: From Hotels to E-Commerce
While coffee is commonly produced in Costa Rica, many Ticos don’t actually drink it. I believe the main reason for this is the extensive exportation of coffee. Both Doka and Cafe Britt export the premium coffee they produce due to its higher global price compared to the domestic market. Consequently, the higher global price decreases…
Bean There, Done That: A Latte Fun at Doka Coffee Estate
Today we visited the coffee business Doka and walked through the entire process of harvesting, peeling, fermenting, and storing coffee cherries and beans! Then we heard from a Doka manager about the coffee economy in Costa Rica and the logistics of the industry. Throughout the day I was constantly surprised about the information we learned,…
Costa Rica Day 1!
Our first full day in Costa Rica exceeded my expectations! In the morning we explored Heredia, and in the afternoon we visited a popular shopping mall. I was particularly impressed by two things: the delicious food and the warm hospitality of the locals. Our host mom, Maria, treated us to a delightful breakfast dish called…
Costa Rica: Leading the Way with Pura Vida-nability!
Costa Rica has consistently ranked in the top 20 of the World Energy Council’s global “environmental sustainability” ranking. They are also the ranked fifth in sustainability in Latin American and Caribbean Countries and 52nd overall in the World. These sustainability efforts make Costa Rica seem much more impressive and progressive to me, as many of…