Throughout the past two weeks we have learned a lot about many aspects of the supply chain of coffee and bananas. My group focused on how firms in each link of the supply chain make decisions in reference to sourcing. We quickly found out that sourcing is not just limited to where you get the…

              Though coffee plantations and banana plantations share the same country, there are still some differences between the two crops’ supply chains. The largest among these is the amount of vertical integration we’ve observed with both crops. For the coffee firms we have visited, there seemed to always be vertical integration between two levels or…

              While coffee trade itself has boosted the economy of Costa Rica, the economic benefits from this product are not confined to the coffee industry. Because of their sustainable processes and high quantity of sales to the USA, the coffee industry has indirectly boosted the tourism industry of Costa Rica. People from numerous countries flock…

              The work of the Quakers has proved to be quintessential to changing the culture in Monteverde. The combination of their religious ideology of being peaceful and their ability to compare the United States’ destructive mannerisms towards the Earth to Monteverde’s locals opportunity to stop their destruction of their forests gave them the tools to…

Based off our trip to Café Monteverde, it became quickly evident that the life of the farmers seems simultaneously simple and intricate. While it seems that Don Guillermo’s daily duties are somewhat repetitive, he showed that his job has many obstacles especially since their farm is so small in comparison to the coffee companies we…

              Without addresses in San Jose, or really anywhere in Costa Rica, logistics in general are pretty much a nightmare unless you are familiar with the area. This has become blatantly obvious to me even though we have only been here for four days as my classmates and have struggled with directions for the past…

While Café Britt roasts some of the highest grade coffee in the world, many Ticos do not actually get the chance to drink it. Due to Costa Rican coffee being a premium, or top grade, coffee, it can be sold for a much higher price elsewhere in the world. Consumers in the United States are…

Between Professor Ramirez’s presentation and the dance lessons we attended, today was a day full of learning. Professor Ramirez began by teaching us about the local and national culture of Heredia and Costa Rica, respectively. Much to my pleasure, she taught us in a very unusual way. Similar to the way elementary students are taught,…

              Upon arriving to Costa Rica, the culture shock took very little time to kick my most basic expectations to the wayside. Unlike some of my classmates (and luckily my roommate), my Spanish is very poor. Despite this, coming into the trip I expected to be able to at least be able to hold a…

Already internationally recognized for their focus on sustainability, Costa Rica has continued to break many barriers in this field in recent years thanks in no small part to their bold initiatives. As a country that contains an incredible five percent of the planet’s biodiversity, the Tico’s devotion to taking care of the Earth is quite…