Today we went to the beautiful La Paz waterfall gardens and saw majestic waterfalls, beautiful wildlife, and reptile exhibits that made my skin crawl. In my topic of design and launch, we have learned a lot from the site visits. Specifically, at the farms, we learned how sustainability can be related to our topic. We…
Tag: Plus 3 Costa Rica
That’s a Wrappuccino
Today was, sadly, our last day of site visits here in Costa Rica. To say I’ve learned “a little” would be a major understatement. This trip has been an eye-opening journey, not just into the culture and , but into the complex world of coffee. From learning about the origins and history of the bean…
Sustainable Agriculture and the Supply Chain through the Lens of the Making Process
Today, we drove to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens to enjoy the beautiful views of the falls and see the wildlife we may have missed on the trip so far. This program has enlightened me in many ways and helped me learn about the making process of the supply chain and how it relates to…
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…
The Truffle Shuffle
Today’s site visit was to Sibo Chocolate, an authentic artisan award winning Costa Rican chocolate company! As a longtime chocolate lover, I was especially excited for this tour, and I can say it did not disappoint. The owners Julio and George have masterfully combined innovation with tradition to create some of the best chocolate I’ve…
In Cacao we trust
Today, we visited Sibo Chocolate for a chocolate history and tasting tour, and it was my favorite tour so far! We learned about the origins of chocolate among Indigenous peoples and how it served many purposes before becoming the sweet treat we know and love today. In addition to the history lesson, we sampled a…
Sweat, Bugs, and Bananas
Today’s site visit offered a refreshing look at agriculture through the lens of smaller-scale, community-driven farming. Francini’s family farm contrasted to the larger, more business oriented, plantations we had visited earlier. In comparison, Francini’s farm felt intimate and deeply personal, we were even welcomed by her young daughter, adding a warm, family-oriented atmosphere to the…
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…
Pura Vida, Pineapples, and Pit Stains
After a relaxing day lounging on the beach and soaking in the sun, it was time to trade the waves for rows of pineapples and get a taste of Costa Rican pineapple. Our visit to a pineapple farm began with a welcome of piña coladas made from the farm’s own pineapple harvest. From there, we…
Goats, Chicks & Eco-Sips
After our last night in Monteverde, we ended our trip in Monteverde with a visit to Life Monteverde. Life Monteverde is a unique coffee farm that serves as a sustainability education center. This tour was the most hands-on experiences we had so far. We didn’t just walk through coffee plants, got the chance to roll…
Muddy Shoes, Cloudy Mountains
On the fifth day of our Costa Rican adventure, we hiked along the misty trails of Monteverde’s cloud forest. The first thing that greeted us was sounds of birdsong echoing through the canopy. This acted as a living soundtrack to one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Costa Rica, though small in size, only…
Valley Vibes to Cloudy Climes
After many hot, sunny mornings in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, we finally made the long journey up into the mountains to Monteverde. Monteverde is around 4,600 feet above sea level. The first thing I noticed was the drop in temperature, a refreshing change from the heat we had grown used to in the Central Valley….
Coffee with the Britts
Today was our second day of site visits, and our stop was at Café Britt. This visit was directly connected to yesterday’s tour of the Doka Estate, which is owned and operated by Café Britt. While Doka focuses on growing and harvesting the coffee beans, Café Britt plays a role in the supply chain relating…
De Fresas a Café: Un Viaje del Amargo al Dulce
Today in Costa Rice we had the opportunity to explore two very different yet equally intriguing corners of the country’s agricultural landscape. One being the Doka Coffee Plantation and the other being a local strawberry farm. Each location offered a window into the lens of agriculture. While both farms share connections to the land and…
¡Bienvenidos, exploradores!
Today was our first day in Costa Rica! Today we explored Heredia on foot, visited the central Market and got a chance to interact more with our Mamaticas. So far, Costa Rica has been a wonderful experience. Being able to interact directly with the culture has been incredible. At our homestay our Mamatica greeted us…
¡Hola, chicos!
Hello! My name is Malina Cameron, and I just finished my first year at Pitt! I am majoring in Marketing and Supply Chain Management. Outside of academics, I am currently an active member in the business fraternity Phi Gamma Nu, where I serve as the director of professional development. I am also an active member…
Costa Rica, ¡Qué Tuanis!
I cannot believe that our two weeks in Costa Rica are ending. This trip went by quickly, but time flies by when you have the time of your life! I am so grateful to have been a part of this experience and gone through it with this fantastic group. On our last day exploring, we…
San Jose Tour
Today, we visited San Jose and got to experience the local culture and visit museums that delved into the history of Costa Rica. Through walking down the streets, I noticed the influence of bananas and coffee on the culture. For one, there were banana and plantain stands out on the streets, and the market had…
Day 10: A Glimpse into San Jose!
Today, we took a train to San Jose for a walking tour around the city. We went into a museum, saw different national monuments, and got to go inside a beautiful theatre. San Jose is very different than a typical city that you would see in the U.S. There are markets like the one in…