Bananas is an integral fruit on many diets all around the world, though the majority of people do not realize the production process that the fruit goes through. If everyone was truely informed of the banana industry, would their opinion of the fruit change? Through research, I discovered some interesting and unknown facts about the production of bananas all over the world.
Though 123 countries produce bananas, over 63% of all production is accountable to just 10 countries. America and Europe make up the largest market share for the demand of this crop. Like the demand, the ownership of banana production is also concentrated in these areas with big corporations such as Dole, Chiquita, Del Monte, and United Fruit Co. producing all but 13% of bananas. This means that the bananas are different from coffee in that there are very few individual or cooperatives in the banana industry.
Because of this more incorporated way of production, many time there are things that the plantations in places in CR lack or are not sufficient in. Many times, plantations are grown in countries that have less than par labor laws or even a low committment to human rights. In CR, where payment is already scarce, immigrant workers (Nicaraguans) are willing to work for less which decreases job security, and due to the problems stated above, the work conditions are often strenuous and may have other harmful effects, such as the spraying of harmful pesticides and fungicides while workers were in the field or even near their homes.. The type of work conditions on banana plantations found all around the world would not be acceptable in the places where most bananas are actually being sold (U.S. and Europe).
Though unionization and organization by banana plantation workers seems like a feasible answer, attempts have been unsuccessful. The tiny improvements that opotential unions would work for are, to many workers, not worth the chance of being fired or "blacklisted" from employment at other plantations. Due to the lack of a successful organizing of many banana workers, the conditions they work in have not improved, and there seems to be no way around it with the need of a job being so high.
Exports of bananas are continuely growing but the proccessing and packing process of bananas may also be disturbing to consumers. The spraying and gasing of unrippened bananas, in order to make sure they turn from bright green (when picked) to the yellow so many consumers are used too, is done just before the banana is loaded onto ships for delivery to market by sea.
Luckily, like with coffee, bananas are also a Fair Trade product. This means that some bananas are produced using Fair Trade guidlines which include that their production be sustainable. This means no use of pesticides, fungicides, and other dangerous chemicals which benefits workers, citizens of the countries where bananas are produced, and consumers. If the banana industry moved to an all Fair Trade system, the industry would be more efficient and ultimately achieve the goal of sustainable.
Friday, May 30, 2008
More on EcoTourism
A good definition of ecotourism that I found was "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." Those people that participate in ecotourism should follow some general guidlines to ensure that this goal is preserved. Those guidelines include minimizing impact, building awareness and being respectful while providing financial benefits for conservation. The biggest difference between regular tourism and ecotourism seems to be that ecotourism is sustainable and regular tourism struggles to be so.
Ecotourism focuses on local cultures, local wilderness , and learning new ways to live and interact on Earth. Ecotourism usually involves adventures to places where the environment and culture are the main attractions. Successful, sustainable ecotourism includes trips that reduce adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment while also continueing to enhance the cultural ways of local people.
Ecotourism can be broken down into many different sectors. These sectors include and are not limited to, Holiday ecotourism, Academic ecotourism, Adventure ecotourism, and Educational ecotourism. During my stay in CR, I will be practicing Academic, Adventure, and Educational ecotourism.
CR has has an enormous amount of biodiversity which makes it a great country for further developement of ecotourism. Although CR is the most deforested country in Latin America, it also has the most protected land in Latin America. With tourism being one of the largest industries in the world, ecotourism has become an opportunity for developing countries like CR. One of the most important positive impacts that ecotourism has had on CR is that it has brought jobs and infrastructure to places that many believed may never have had the opportunity otherwise.
It is my belief, that because ecotourism is growing so quickly around the world, that soon it will be the job countries like CR to differentiate itself from other countries that offer ecotourism. Just like in any other industry, I feel it will be important for ecotourism in countries to product differentiate itself in order to continue to be sustainable and successful.
Ecotourism focuses on local cultures, local wilderness , and learning new ways to live and interact on Earth. Ecotourism usually involves adventures to places where the environment and culture are the main attractions. Successful, sustainable ecotourism includes trips that reduce adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment while also continueing to enhance the cultural ways of local people.
Ecotourism can be broken down into many different sectors. These sectors include and are not limited to, Holiday ecotourism, Academic ecotourism, Adventure ecotourism, and Educational ecotourism. During my stay in CR, I will be practicing Academic, Adventure, and Educational ecotourism.
CR has has an enormous amount of biodiversity which makes it a great country for further developement of ecotourism. Although CR is the most deforested country in Latin America, it also has the most protected land in Latin America. With tourism being one of the largest industries in the world, ecotourism has become an opportunity for developing countries like CR. One of the most important positive impacts that ecotourism has had on CR is that it has brought jobs and infrastructure to places that many believed may never have had the opportunity otherwise.
It is my belief, that because ecotourism is growing so quickly around the world, that soon it will be the job countries like CR to differentiate itself from other countries that offer ecotourism. Just like in any other industry, I feel it will be important for ecotourism in countries to product differentiate itself in order to continue to be sustainable and successful.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
More on Coffee in CR
For the coffee industry, the development of Fair Trade Coffee resulted in many advances in the lives of small farmers everywhere and the improvement of their treatment. From Fair trade Coffee, producers receive a fair price at which to sell their products, usually a price that supports a living wage. Other benefits included the end of forced and child labor, the improvement of working conditions from both a safety and health prospective.
Overall, Fair Trade benefits small suppliers of coffee the most but is effective for the whole industry in determining a minimum acceptable price. It provided equal work opportunities for all those interested and also put all processes of production and trade in the public eye. Mostly, Fair trade Coffee ended a time in the coffee industry where small scale producers were exploited for the product at prices not high enough to support their way of life.
Today, the Fair Trade System (which includes the coffee industry), employees over 800,000 people and has organized cooperatives and unions in over 48 different countries. The problem today is that there is still coffee being sold outside the Fair Trade system which hurts all the producers of coffee from a price standpoint. In coffee, the end product is marked with the appropriate logo if it is a Fair Trade Coffee product.
By buying and supporting Fair Trade Systems of trade, the rest of the world can help support industries in developing countries that without this system would lack the structure needed for the industry to be successful for the producers.
Overall, Fair Trade benefits small suppliers of coffee the most but is effective for the whole industry in determining a minimum acceptable price. It provided equal work opportunities for all those interested and also put all processes of production and trade in the public eye. Mostly, Fair trade Coffee ended a time in the coffee industry where small scale producers were exploited for the product at prices not high enough to support their way of life.
Today, the Fair Trade System (which includes the coffee industry), employees over 800,000 people and has organized cooperatives and unions in over 48 different countries. The problem today is that there is still coffee being sold outside the Fair Trade system which hurts all the producers of coffee from a price standpoint. In coffee, the end product is marked with the appropriate logo if it is a Fair Trade Coffee product.
By buying and supporting Fair Trade Systems of trade, the rest of the world can help support industries in developing countries that without this system would lack the structure needed for the industry to be successful for the producers.
Pics From Manuel Antonio
From Bottom to Top:
Crocodiles on the trip to Manuel Antonio.
View from our hotel.
Bob, Jon, Morell, Myself, and Evan at Dinner.
Chase and I at dinner.
Stream running through Manuel Antonio National Park.
Pic of me while on our hike through Manuel Antonio National Park.
Off day visit to Manuel Antonio
On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27th and 28th, all 27 of us boarded the bus for a 5 hour drive to Manuel Antonio. The whole way it rained but we remained optimistic that it was going to be sunny at the beach! Turns out, that CR is in the middle of a tropical storm and can expect more rain to come. Even with the rain, the trip was a lot of fun.
After a 5 hour bus ride that included seeing crocodiles in the river we passed over, we arrived in Manuel Antonio around noon on Tuesday, and I headed straight for the beach. It was my first Pacific Ocean experience. The water was really warm and with the rain, it was an especially amazing experience.I spent about 4 hours on the beach until it was dinner time. We headed for a local restaurant just a little in town from our hotel. It was also happy hour which ended up being a good time. After dinner, we went back to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.
Wednesday morning I awoke at 7am for breakfast and an 8am nature walk through Manuel Antonio Natural Forest. It was still raining but this walk was well worth it. We saw many good views, monkeys, a forest tree fall just in front of the trail we were walking on, and other creatures that inhabited the rain forest. After the tree fell, The wild life in the forest made many calls and it was amazing to hear all the monkeys call out into the rest of the forest.
Finally, later that afternoon, we headed back to San Jose. I arrived around 8pm exhausted and after dinner was asleep by 10. Overall, I was very pleased to have a short break from studies and San Jose and to have the chance to see another part of CR and experience the Pacific Ocean.
After a 5 hour bus ride that included seeing crocodiles in the river we passed over, we arrived in Manuel Antonio around noon on Tuesday, and I headed straight for the beach. It was my first Pacific Ocean experience. The water was really warm and with the rain, it was an especially amazing experience.I spent about 4 hours on the beach until it was dinner time. We headed for a local restaurant just a little in town from our hotel. It was also happy hour which ended up being a good time. After dinner, we went back to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.
Wednesday morning I awoke at 7am for breakfast and an 8am nature walk through Manuel Antonio Natural Forest. It was still raining but this walk was well worth it. We saw many good views, monkeys, a forest tree fall just in front of the trail we were walking on, and other creatures that inhabited the rain forest. After the tree fell, The wild life in the forest made many calls and it was amazing to hear all the monkeys call out into the rest of the forest.
Finally, later that afternoon, we headed back to San Jose. I arrived around 8pm exhausted and after dinner was asleep by 10. Overall, I was very pleased to have a short break from studies and San Jose and to have the chance to see another part of CR and experience the Pacific Ocean.
Pics from Arenal, LaFortuna, and Monteverde
From Bottom to Top:
Stephanie, myself, Prof. Platt, and Bob in the 152 degree hot spring.
Arenal Volcano.
Nate and I at the hydroelectric damn.
Horseback riding to Lafortuna Waterfall.
Me and hardened lava from Arenal volcano.
Nate and I in our equipment ready to go zip lining through the jungle.
And though you cant really tell, that is me on the Tarazan swing!!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Arenal, LaFortuna, and Monteverde
We arrived in Arenal on Friday night. The first sightseeing part of our trip was to visit the Baldi hot springs which are naturally heated by the Arenal volcano near by. Here were able to go down water slides, get into pools that where 150 degrees, and have dinner. Almost everyone got into the extremely hot spring, especially compared to other years where the proffessors claimed that barely anyone got in past their knees. I was pretty excited because I was able to go under with my whole body including my head.
The next day, we had breakfast at our hotel and proceeded to a Hydro electric plan. At the ICE plant, we were able to see where they damned the water up as well as the turbines and other parts of the electricity generating process. It was very interesting and something I had never seen before. When leaving the tour we saw a 3 feet iguana which was the pretty much first exotic animal I had seen while in CR so far. The next stop in our day was LaFortuna water fall. After about a 20 min hike down what seemed like a vertical mountain side, we were rewarded with the view of a large water fall that I guessed was at least 10 stories high. we were able to swim in the pool of water that the fall dropped to. The current was very strong and the water was cool and felt amazing after getting hot on the hike down. The worse part about the visit to the waterfall was the walk back up to the bus which was tiring. We then took a hike on the trail of the Arenal Volcano. WE were able to walk over colled lave and saw some amazing views as we hiked higher up the volcano. That night we ate at the Steakhouse restaurant. When we returned to our hotel, the power was out so we lit candles to find our way around. It was actually kind of relaxing not to have power to watch tv or read or anything else. We were also lucky enough that night for it to be clear enough for us to see molten lava running from the top of the volcano.
Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel and left by jeep to cross the Arenal Lake which 40 years ago was a city but was destroyed by the volcano and later flooded by damns. While crossing the lake there were many beautiful views of the volcano and the scenery around us. after crossing the lake we boarded more jeeps for the final part of the trip to Monteverde. When we reached Monteverde, it was time to ZipLine. We traveled over 13 lines through the cloud forest , rappeled 50 feet, and Tarzan swung. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done and hope I get to experience it again. The fact that I was able to travel through the canopy of a Rain Forest still amazes me! After the ZipLining, we traveled to where were staying which was the Monteverde National Park. The night consisted of a walk through the jungle. we were able to see many insects but the highlight of the walk was a couple of from and the Orange Ringed Tarangela.
Monday morning was our travel day, but we woke up at 6am for a morning Bird watch in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Luckily we were able to see many birds including the male and female Quetzal, the most popular bird to try and view in CR. We Arrived back in San Jose around 1pm. We hit up a local flee market to try and find some good stuff for cheap.
Tomorrow we head for Manuel Antonio at 7am. Here, we will be able to enjoy our first beach experience in CR.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monteverde
This weekend we head to Monteverde. Bathing in natural hot springs, seeing a volcano and waterfalls, horseback riding, ziplining through the jungle, and a tour of a hydro electric plant are all activities on the schedule. I can not wait to finally see some of the beauty that CR is known for. Will have new post when I get back!!
Overview of the Banana Industry in CR
Thought to be a native plant of tropical Asia, the banana (platano, banano) is beleived to be first introduced into the Caribbean and eventually made its way to Central America including Costa Rica sometime after the Spanish invasion. Historically, bananas have played a major role in developing the Carribean and Central America. Many of the countries that grow bananas became know as ¨Banana Republics¨ due to the fact that their economies relied so heavily of the production of bananas for export. In CR, bananas still play a significant role in the success of the economy but is now supplemented with such industries as microchips, ecotourism, coffee and other manufacturing companies. As a whole these industries have allowed CR to find success and improved the way of life for Costa Ricans while also aiding in developement.
Bananas are not considered to be the safest line of work. Due to the very heavy use of pesticides, many workers have become ill in the past. Though working towards improvement of the safety for workers, there is still much that needs to be done in order to move the banana industry towards being more efficient.
The banana industry is mostly dominated by a few large corporations. Dole, Chiquita, Fresh Del Monte, and United Fruit Co. all have a large say in how the industry is run and the practices that are used in growing the bananas. Banana exports have always been high and expanding for CR and seems like that trand will continue with thousands of hectares of bananas being planted every year.
Things I hope to be able to understand after more research and visits to banana plantations include, the process of banana production, the work conditions of banana growers and how they can be improved, whether it is possible for the banana industry to be sustainable considering the high use of pesticides, and finally is the banana industry with the growing demand, able to not hinder the preservation of rainforests in CR and other banana producing countries as plantations will need even more land to plant and harvest.
Bananas are not considered to be the safest line of work. Due to the very heavy use of pesticides, many workers have become ill in the past. Though working towards improvement of the safety for workers, there is still much that needs to be done in order to move the banana industry towards being more efficient.
The banana industry is mostly dominated by a few large corporations. Dole, Chiquita, Fresh Del Monte, and United Fruit Co. all have a large say in how the industry is run and the practices that are used in growing the bananas. Banana exports have always been high and expanding for CR and seems like that trand will continue with thousands of hectares of bananas being planted every year.
Things I hope to be able to understand after more research and visits to banana plantations include, the process of banana production, the work conditions of banana growers and how they can be improved, whether it is possible for the banana industry to be sustainable considering the high use of pesticides, and finally is the banana industry with the growing demand, able to not hinder the preservation of rainforests in CR and other banana producing countries as plantations will need even more land to plant and harvest.
Overview of EcoTourism in CR
Ecotourism is growing at an extreme rate all around the world. This growing demand has opened doors for places like CR which possess such beauty throughout the country and an ability to satisfy the demand from tourist of foriegn countries. Though economically, ecotourism is very prosperous, the biggest questions the industy faces revolve around sustainability. The greatest benefit that ecotourism provides is the chance to preserve the natural beauty and natural resources in countries like CR while also providing profit for an economy to build off of. Lately, some ecologists believe that because of such high damand for ecotourism resulting in construction and overuse of the areas attracting the tourists, ecotourism may be on a path of self destruction.
In CR, the incredible biodiversity that the small country is blessed with has resulted in the ecotourism industry becoming the building block for developing the country even further. Ecotourism in CR, second behind only INTEL´s chip production, provides the second highest amount of income. There are many reason why this industry flourishes. Biodiversity, pivotal location, a strong understanding by the Costa Rican government of the importance of preserving it´s natural surroundings, and support from abroad, have all made ecotourism a successful and attractive industry for Costa Rica.
Ecotourism has both benefits and costs. Benefits include, being an alternative to environmentally damaging industries and encouraging conservation efforts. The Costs of ecotourism include, overuse of the environment from an amount of tourist view, greenwashing, and the threat of profit coming before preservation.
In CR, it seems that ecotourism has become a major reason for the countries success. It has helped in conservation, slowed or even stopped deforeststation in certain countries, and has also brought jobs and income to rural areas which in the past had lacked a stable industry to latch on to. As ecotourism moves into the future, I beleive it will be important for close regulations to be imposed or recomended to ensure that the conservation of CR comes before the profit.
In CR, the incredible biodiversity that the small country is blessed with has resulted in the ecotourism industry becoming the building block for developing the country even further. Ecotourism in CR, second behind only INTEL´s chip production, provides the second highest amount of income. There are many reason why this industry flourishes. Biodiversity, pivotal location, a strong understanding by the Costa Rican government of the importance of preserving it´s natural surroundings, and support from abroad, have all made ecotourism a successful and attractive industry for Costa Rica.
Ecotourism has both benefits and costs. Benefits include, being an alternative to environmentally damaging industries and encouraging conservation efforts. The Costs of ecotourism include, overuse of the environment from an amount of tourist view, greenwashing, and the threat of profit coming before preservation.
In CR, it seems that ecotourism has become a major reason for the countries success. It has helped in conservation, slowed or even stopped deforeststation in certain countries, and has also brought jobs and income to rural areas which in the past had lacked a stable industry to latch on to. As ecotourism moves into the future, I beleive it will be important for close regulations to be imposed or recomended to ensure that the conservation of CR comes before the profit.
Visit to Cafe Britt
On Thursday, we took a visit to Cafe Britt. Cafe Britt is a corporation based in CR that handles all levels of the production process of coffee. Considered a gourmet brand of coffee, Cafe Britt produces both non-organic and organic coffee with their product reaching stores all over the world. The visit included a very informative presentation of how coffee beans or "cherries" are harvested and processed (dried, roasted, and bagged), how to make coffee correctly, and a great buffet lunch.
Some new interesting facts that I picked up while Cafe Britt inlcude, 80 lbs. of pick coffee fruit result in just 3.5 lbs. of ground coffee to be sold. Coffee plants take at least one year of careful nurturing before it is ready to be placed in the field. After a plant makes it to the field, its will produce ¨cherries¨ for approxiamately 40 years. The decafination process can be performed many ways, but Cafe Britt believes that Germany is the best. To decafinate coffee it is soaked in hot water and steam before being roasted. Though I am not completely sure of the steps it takes to decafinate coffee, I do know that it results in 99.9% of caffiene being extracted. This extracted caffiene is then sold to companies such as Coke and Pepsi where they use the caffiene in their products. The last intersesting fact that I learned while at Cafe Britt, is that the coffee in CR got started through what I consider a government program. After recieving Indepence from Spain, the new Costa Rican government was willing to give land and resources to people willing to begin farming coffee. This government encouragement is what led to coffee being such a big player in the Costa Rican economy.
Cafe Britt also was very educational in how to brew and serve a perfect cup of coffee. In brewing, Cafe Britt always recomended brown filters because white filters contain chlorine which can distort the real flavor of the bean. Spring water is also recomended for the same reason of keeping chemicals found in tap water from affecting the taste. While a glass of coffee has a lifespan of 20 minutes, Cafe Britt also said never to reheat coffee or to use grounds more than once. Reheating and reusing results in loss of flavors from the original oils of the coffee bean. In regards to tasting, Cafe Britt said there is a correct way to test the taste of your coffee. This process included testing the aroma, the weight of your coffee grounds, and the way you actually drink coffee. All these little recomendations should result according to Cafe Britt in the perfect cup of coffee where the drinker is totally satisfied.
In comparison to Del Cafe Tal coffee, I found that Cafe Britt´s product did not taste as good. Lunch was provided and was delicious. Seeing Cafe Britt really allowed me to understand coffee production and its benefits and restrictions as far as sustainability. Examining the difference between organic and nonorganic and a small private coffee plantation and a large corporate coffee plantation really helped in my understanding of what is needed for the coffee industry to move forward in CR.
Some new interesting facts that I picked up while Cafe Britt inlcude, 80 lbs. of pick coffee fruit result in just 3.5 lbs. of ground coffee to be sold. Coffee plants take at least one year of careful nurturing before it is ready to be placed in the field. After a plant makes it to the field, its will produce ¨cherries¨ for approxiamately 40 years. The decafination process can be performed many ways, but Cafe Britt believes that Germany is the best. To decafinate coffee it is soaked in hot water and steam before being roasted. Though I am not completely sure of the steps it takes to decafinate coffee, I do know that it results in 99.9% of caffiene being extracted. This extracted caffiene is then sold to companies such as Coke and Pepsi where they use the caffiene in their products. The last intersesting fact that I learned while at Cafe Britt, is that the coffee in CR got started through what I consider a government program. After recieving Indepence from Spain, the new Costa Rican government was willing to give land and resources to people willing to begin farming coffee. This government encouragement is what led to coffee being such a big player in the Costa Rican economy.
Cafe Britt also was very educational in how to brew and serve a perfect cup of coffee. In brewing, Cafe Britt always recomended brown filters because white filters contain chlorine which can distort the real flavor of the bean. Spring water is also recomended for the same reason of keeping chemicals found in tap water from affecting the taste. While a glass of coffee has a lifespan of 20 minutes, Cafe Britt also said never to reheat coffee or to use grounds more than once. Reheating and reusing results in loss of flavors from the original oils of the coffee bean. In regards to tasting, Cafe Britt said there is a correct way to test the taste of your coffee. This process included testing the aroma, the weight of your coffee grounds, and the way you actually drink coffee. All these little recomendations should result according to Cafe Britt in the perfect cup of coffee where the drinker is totally satisfied.
In comparison to Del Cafe Tal coffee, I found that Cafe Britt´s product did not taste as good. Lunch was provided and was delicious. Seeing Cafe Britt really allowed me to understand coffee production and its benefits and restrictions as far as sustainability. Examining the difference between organic and nonorganic and a small private coffee plantation and a large corporate coffee plantation really helped in my understanding of what is needed for the coffee industry to move forward in CR.
Pics of Host Family and Roomate
Bottom to Top:
Viviana (my host mom), Edgar, and myself.
Viviana, Nate (my roomate) and myself.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Still to come...
I hope to have new posts concerning my trip to Cafe Britt´s plantation, as well as posts concerning a light overview of both the tourism and banana industry in CR.
Pics from Cafe Britt
From Bottom to top:
View from Cafe Britt´s plantation.
Young coffee plants being nurtured until ready for the field.
Coffee Roaster of Cafe Britt.
Finished product ready for exportation to Miami.
Pics from Del Cafe Tal
From bottom to top:
A view from Del Cafe Tal coffee plantation.
A field of coffee plants.
Coffee fruit with bean inside.
Leftover coffee beans in the sun drying bins.
Myself with Del Cafe Tal´s Coffee Roaster.
Site Seeing
These are some of the sites that I saw on our first tour of San Jose. The bottom is a Catholic church, the middle picture is CR's National Theatre, and the top picture is the old army HQ which is no longer useful due to the fact that CR no longer has a military.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Costa Rican Coffee Industry
Coffee production began in 1779 in the Meseta Central in CR. This area contained near perfect soil and climate conditions for the growth of coffee. A native plant of Ethiopia, the blend introduced to CR was first found in Saudi Arabia, hence the name of the type of coffee grown in CR, Arabica. Coffee growing surpassed cacao, tobacco, and sugar in importance to Costa Rica's economy and by the 1830's coffee had become the main agricultural crop of CR. Today, because Costa Rican coffee is so high in quality, it is routinely mixed with inferior beans to make an end product that is up to standard.
Today, according to coffeeuniverse.com, the coffee industry employees over 20 million people, ranks second only to petroleum in terms of dollars worth of the commodity traded, and with an estimated 400 billion cups of coffee consumed every year, it is the world's most popular drink.
Coffee accounts for just under 10% of Costa Rican exports (in value) and is decreasing due to the industrializtion of CR. Because of very fertile land and an abundance of rain fall, CR is an ideal place to grow coffee. To aide in the ease of exporting and to reduce costs, including those of coffee, CR is actively lobbying to join the NAFTA treaty or to sign a similar treaty with the U.S. and other countries where coffee and other products are heavily exported. CR has also been a part of the Free Trade Act of the Americas which has leveled the playing field for coffee growers. Both NAFTA and Free Trade Act have helped reduce the tax and tarriffs that use to be encountered when coffee was exported from CR. This decrease in cost has allowed the industry to grow even larger.
In CR, abother thing that is improving the sustainablity of the coffee industry is the fact that coffee plantations have been forming cooperatives to not only be able to reduce costs in terms of purchasing certain needs of a coffee farm but also in helping to set prices for their coffee beans that will yield a better profit for the growers. Without the formation of these cooperatives, many coffee plantations would fail due to costs exceeding revenue.
It seems as though the coffee industry has greatly benefited from trade agreements made world wide and that the industry will continue to be a mainstay in the Costa Rican economy because of the strides plantation owners are making to increase their efficiency and buying and selling power.
Today, according to coffeeuniverse.com, the coffee industry employees over 20 million people, ranks second only to petroleum in terms of dollars worth of the commodity traded, and with an estimated 400 billion cups of coffee consumed every year, it is the world's most popular drink.
Coffee accounts for just under 10% of Costa Rican exports (in value) and is decreasing due to the industrializtion of CR. Because of very fertile land and an abundance of rain fall, CR is an ideal place to grow coffee. To aide in the ease of exporting and to reduce costs, including those of coffee, CR is actively lobbying to join the NAFTA treaty or to sign a similar treaty with the U.S. and other countries where coffee and other products are heavily exported. CR has also been a part of the Free Trade Act of the Americas which has leveled the playing field for coffee growers. Both NAFTA and Free Trade Act have helped reduce the tax and tarriffs that use to be encountered when coffee was exported from CR. This decrease in cost has allowed the industry to grow even larger.
In CR, abother thing that is improving the sustainablity of the coffee industry is the fact that coffee plantations have been forming cooperatives to not only be able to reduce costs in terms of purchasing certain needs of a coffee farm but also in helping to set prices for their coffee beans that will yield a better profit for the growers. Without the formation of these cooperatives, many coffee plantations would fail due to costs exceeding revenue.
It seems as though the coffee industry has greatly benefited from trade agreements made world wide and that the industry will continue to be a mainstay in the Costa Rican economy because of the strides plantation owners are making to increase their efficiency and buying and selling power.
Visit to Del Cafe Tal
Today, Wednseday May 21st, we traveled to Del Cafe Tal. It is a local coffee plantation that just earlier this month won awards as being the best coffee and CR. The owner, Daisy, believed this meant the best in the world as well. On our visit, the owner and the coffee engineer had lots of information regarding how the coffee business works and the challenges that coffee producers face.
This particuler plantation was located at the highest point in which coffee can still be grown successfully. With the high altitude, there are benefits as well as things that make it harder to sustain a coffee business. Benefits include more humidity and moisture which is a definately beneficial right now since the rainy season should have already begun, but has been delayed for some reason. Something that is made more difficult by the altitude is the lack of sun, due to clouds, that this farm recieves. Since Del Cafe Tal dries the coffee beans in the sun, it takes additional time to dry their beans which ultimately makes them less efficient compared to other plantations.
The owner also expressed to us that the coffee industry has two main sectors, Organic and Non-Organic. Tomorrow, we visit Cafe Britt which is an Organic coffee plantation. Del Cafe Tal was bought by the owner that gave our presentation about 10 years ago. She originally wanted to be an orgainic farm, but changed to non-organic when after 3 years. According to her, there are many reasons why organic plantations are harder to make successful. The first seemed to be the difference in production. When her farm was organic at a size of 2 hectares, she was only producing 30 sacks of beans a year. When she switched over to non-organic, she increased her production to 800 sacks a year. The second problem she highlighted was that the increase in the amount an owner can charge for organic vs. non-orgainc coffee is not enough. She estimated that is was only a couple of dollars more per sack. These reasons make non-organic production much more attractive to owners who are really looking to make a profit.
The owner also identified problems with fraud in regards to Organic coffee. To be organic, a plantation`s soil must pass inspections for not having fertilizers and other things. The problem in today`s market is that some companies are marketing there coffee as organic when in reality, it is not. This has lead to the price offered to organic growers being driven down.
Del Cafe Tal was also very interesting because the owner realized the importance of having the ability to process her crops from seed to shelf. This meant that she planted, cared for, harvested, dried, roasted, ground, and sold to customers. Because she has made her farm capable of all these processes, she does not have to rely on anyone else in getting her product to market. This leads to better efficienty and in the long run, lower cost.
Other interesting facts I found by listening to the owner and engineer of Del Cafe Tal included, 7 full time employees and up to 70 during the harvest. Harvest season begins between December and January depending on how ready the bean and fruit are. The bean pickers are paid by how many bushels of beans they bring in and also the proportion of the color of the beans they bring in. The more red the better (as oposed to green). Degradation of the soil is one of the biggest problems that face all coffee growers. Overplanting and water drainage lead to this problem. Finally, because Del Cafe Tal is such a small Plantation, costs for fertilizer and other necesities for growing coffe were expensive. Realizing this, Del Cafe Tal has joined forces with other farms in her area to decrease costs by buying in "bulk".
Interestingly, when Daisy`s plantation won the award as best quality coffee, she almost immediately found she could charge an increased price for her product. She went from charging $1.50 per pound to $15 per pound. She is looking to use this award as a marketing ploy to get her coffee into the top areas of the world (Europe, Japan, U.S.) at the top price she can recieve. The other positive that came out of winning the award was the increase in pride that Daisy had noticed in her workers. Daisy observed that since the coffee product her employees help produce was recognized and awarded, they are more proud of the jobs they do around the plantation and even do more than what they are paid for.
At the end of our visit, Del Cafe Tal provided free coffee. Although it was not brewed from the award winning beans, I do not think it could be much different. I am usually not one to enjoy coffee, but the aroma and taste of Daisy`s coffee was really amazing. I bought 3 lbs. at $10 dollar a pound to bring home to family and friends. I hope they will enjoy it as much as I did.
A post concerning the Coffee industry as a whole is on its way!!
This particuler plantation was located at the highest point in which coffee can still be grown successfully. With the high altitude, there are benefits as well as things that make it harder to sustain a coffee business. Benefits include more humidity and moisture which is a definately beneficial right now since the rainy season should have already begun, but has been delayed for some reason. Something that is made more difficult by the altitude is the lack of sun, due to clouds, that this farm recieves. Since Del Cafe Tal dries the coffee beans in the sun, it takes additional time to dry their beans which ultimately makes them less efficient compared to other plantations.
The owner also expressed to us that the coffee industry has two main sectors, Organic and Non-Organic. Tomorrow, we visit Cafe Britt which is an Organic coffee plantation. Del Cafe Tal was bought by the owner that gave our presentation about 10 years ago. She originally wanted to be an orgainic farm, but changed to non-organic when after 3 years. According to her, there are many reasons why organic plantations are harder to make successful. The first seemed to be the difference in production. When her farm was organic at a size of 2 hectares, she was only producing 30 sacks of beans a year. When she switched over to non-organic, she increased her production to 800 sacks a year. The second problem she highlighted was that the increase in the amount an owner can charge for organic vs. non-orgainc coffee is not enough. She estimated that is was only a couple of dollars more per sack. These reasons make non-organic production much more attractive to owners who are really looking to make a profit.
The owner also identified problems with fraud in regards to Organic coffee. To be organic, a plantation`s soil must pass inspections for not having fertilizers and other things. The problem in today`s market is that some companies are marketing there coffee as organic when in reality, it is not. This has lead to the price offered to organic growers being driven down.
Del Cafe Tal was also very interesting because the owner realized the importance of having the ability to process her crops from seed to shelf. This meant that she planted, cared for, harvested, dried, roasted, ground, and sold to customers. Because she has made her farm capable of all these processes, she does not have to rely on anyone else in getting her product to market. This leads to better efficienty and in the long run, lower cost.
Other interesting facts I found by listening to the owner and engineer of Del Cafe Tal included, 7 full time employees and up to 70 during the harvest. Harvest season begins between December and January depending on how ready the bean and fruit are. The bean pickers are paid by how many bushels of beans they bring in and also the proportion of the color of the beans they bring in. The more red the better (as oposed to green). Degradation of the soil is one of the biggest problems that face all coffee growers. Overplanting and water drainage lead to this problem. Finally, because Del Cafe Tal is such a small Plantation, costs for fertilizer and other necesities for growing coffe were expensive. Realizing this, Del Cafe Tal has joined forces with other farms in her area to decrease costs by buying in "bulk".
Interestingly, when Daisy`s plantation won the award as best quality coffee, she almost immediately found she could charge an increased price for her product. She went from charging $1.50 per pound to $15 per pound. She is looking to use this award as a marketing ploy to get her coffee into the top areas of the world (Europe, Japan, U.S.) at the top price she can recieve. The other positive that came out of winning the award was the increase in pride that Daisy had noticed in her workers. Daisy observed that since the coffee product her employees help produce was recognized and awarded, they are more proud of the jobs they do around the plantation and even do more than what they are paid for.
At the end of our visit, Del Cafe Tal provided free coffee. Although it was not brewed from the award winning beans, I do not think it could be much different. I am usually not one to enjoy coffee, but the aroma and taste of Daisy`s coffee was really amazing. I bought 3 lbs. at $10 dollar a pound to bring home to family and friends. I hope they will enjoy it as much as I did.
A post concerning the Coffee industry as a whole is on its way!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Mom, Dad, Amy
One last quick post for the day. I want to say hello to my family. Hope everything is going great. I will be in touch soon. Love you guys!! I plan on having some pictures soon.
Visit to CINDE
Monday afternoon consisted of our first visit to a Costa Rican company, CINDE. I really had no idea what this business did in Costa Rica, but there presentation left me with a clear understanding of their important role in the developement of CR.
CINDE was founded in 1982. Originally it was an American organization that was set up in San Jose to explore different possibilities of where foriegn investment could benefit. Today, CINDE is a 30 person company with one employee in NYC that is ran totally by Costa Ricans. CINDE is a non profit organization that works off an endowment that the U.S. left when they got out of the business.
The main business operations of CINDE is to attract foriegn investment to CR. They focus in bringing in businesses in electronics, healthcare, and services. CINDE is supposed to help foriegn companies ffind the best situation for bringing there business to CR. They are a middleman with regards to negotiations with the government and people of Costa Rica.
CINDE has been helpful in Costa Rica´s transformation from a mostly agricultural economy to one that is growing more and more industrialized. Today, there are over 200 companies that are classified as Advanced Manufacturing. CINDE reported that Manufacturing attracts the highest amount of foriegn investment, with Real Estate growing quickly, and have high expectations for the Financial and Services sectors. For the large Manufacturing sector, CINDE believes automotive and aerospace companies will be the next to really begin investing in CR.
One of the things I found intriguing about the investment in Costa Rica is the amount of reinvestment vs. new investment. 86% of foriegn investment is reinvestment whereas new investment consists of just 14%. To me, this means that the companies that are investing here are findaing rewards for doing so and therefor are increasing there investment even more. This makes for sustainability of those industries in CR. This investment also benefits Costa Ricans who are able to get jobs with these companies. CINDE said that foriegn companies usually pay at least 20% above Costa Rican minimum wage.
The biggest reason why foriegn investment is so attractive in CR is because of the incentives a business recieves by moving there business processes here. According to CINDE, with as little investment of $150,000 in a certified Free Trade Zone, businesses can realize 100% exemption on duties and no corporate tax for the first 12 years and 50% discount after 12 years. These incentives seem like they would be a great reason for foriegn companies to invest in Costa Rica. The other reason that I see companies being attracted to invest in Costa Rica is the fact that CR generates 98% of it energy through renewable resources which is a fact in which it seems like a company could use, to make it help make it appear as thought it has gone green.
Overall, the visit to CINDE was very informative. Ontop of seeing their role in the Costa Rican economy, they gave an overwiew of the country and it developement from a banana republic to a developing industrialized country. What I found so interesting and unique about this organization, was the fact that they are basically trying to sell Costa Rica. They are promoters, even almost advertisers for theie country. It seems like the work CINDE does is very important to CR moving forward.
CINDE was founded in 1982. Originally it was an American organization that was set up in San Jose to explore different possibilities of where foriegn investment could benefit. Today, CINDE is a 30 person company with one employee in NYC that is ran totally by Costa Ricans. CINDE is a non profit organization that works off an endowment that the U.S. left when they got out of the business.
The main business operations of CINDE is to attract foriegn investment to CR. They focus in bringing in businesses in electronics, healthcare, and services. CINDE is supposed to help foriegn companies ffind the best situation for bringing there business to CR. They are a middleman with regards to negotiations with the government and people of Costa Rica.
CINDE has been helpful in Costa Rica´s transformation from a mostly agricultural economy to one that is growing more and more industrialized. Today, there are over 200 companies that are classified as Advanced Manufacturing. CINDE reported that Manufacturing attracts the highest amount of foriegn investment, with Real Estate growing quickly, and have high expectations for the Financial and Services sectors. For the large Manufacturing sector, CINDE believes automotive and aerospace companies will be the next to really begin investing in CR.
One of the things I found intriguing about the investment in Costa Rica is the amount of reinvestment vs. new investment. 86% of foriegn investment is reinvestment whereas new investment consists of just 14%. To me, this means that the companies that are investing here are findaing rewards for doing so and therefor are increasing there investment even more. This makes for sustainability of those industries in CR. This investment also benefits Costa Ricans who are able to get jobs with these companies. CINDE said that foriegn companies usually pay at least 20% above Costa Rican minimum wage.
The biggest reason why foriegn investment is so attractive in CR is because of the incentives a business recieves by moving there business processes here. According to CINDE, with as little investment of $150,000 in a certified Free Trade Zone, businesses can realize 100% exemption on duties and no corporate tax for the first 12 years and 50% discount after 12 years. These incentives seem like they would be a great reason for foriegn companies to invest in Costa Rica. The other reason that I see companies being attracted to invest in Costa Rica is the fact that CR generates 98% of it energy through renewable resources which is a fact in which it seems like a company could use, to make it help make it appear as thought it has gone green.
Overall, the visit to CINDE was very informative. Ontop of seeing their role in the Costa Rican economy, they gave an overwiew of the country and it developement from a banana republic to a developing industrialized country. What I found so interesting and unique about this organization, was the fact that they are basically trying to sell Costa Rica. They are promoters, even almost advertisers for theie country. It seems like the work CINDE does is very important to CR moving forward.
Meeting my host family and the first few days...
After what seemed like a very long trip, due mostly to the build up of anticipation, I arrived in Costa Rica late Saturday night. Passing through imigration and customs was exciting for me because I got the first stamp in my passport. As soon as I walked out of the airport, I noticed a difference from back home. Hundreds of Ticos were waiting with signs for people they were expecting. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced at an airport before.
To reach downtown San Jose and Veritas University, where we would be staying, we had to take about a half hour bus ride. Darkness kept me from seeing the mountains around us and from just riding around, San Jose seemed pretty similar to American Cities. When we arrived at the University, I met my host mother. Her name was Viviana and she had a tiny Toyota Paseo that myself and my roomate Nate barely fit into with all our luggage. Her house ended up being 3 blocks away from the University and a great location in terms of some things to do in San Jose. I really was expecting a big family with a mother that was older, but Viviana lives mainly by herself except when her mother or boyfriend stay as well and she is only 26 years old. She is a preschool teacher and has been to L.A. and Orlando and speaks english very well which is great because I do not know any spanish.
That first night was very interesting. We went to Subway for dinner which I really did not expect to do in Costa Rica. Then Viviana took us to 2 bars where we met her friends, her boyfriend, and I had my first Imperial, the main domestic beer in Costa Rica. Here, you can buy a beer for as littler as $1.50. The first bar was more relaxed and was part of a restaurant. Oddly enough the bar had pictures of Hilary Clinton, The Beatles, and other famous works of art. The second bar was more of a dance bar and it played a lot of Elvis music.
My room is actually its own littler apartment that she usually rents out and is in the back yard. To get up the stairs to my room I must pass her dog which is very friendly, thankfully. Viviana also has a pet rabbit, it seems that she is an animal lover. My room has two beds, one is a double which will be nice. I have begun to unpack and get myself situated. My room will be very nice because it will be very private and it also has its own bathroom with a shower. So far, I have not been able to get a hot one, but I am still hopeful.
Sunday was also an eventful day. When I awoke, breakfast was already on the table. It was Guyo Pinto, eggs, and bacon. Gallo Pinto is a mixture of rice and beans and every Tico seems to make it their own way. Viviano´s Gallo Pinto was delicious. After breakfast, the group I am with from Miami had an orientation and tour of Veritas University. We then departed by bus for a narrarated tour of Costa Rica which also included some walking of the streets of San Jose. The city seems to be very young and busy, the parks and shops were all very crowded. That afternoon, we ate lunch at a local restaurant. Again, I had rice and beans but also had a salad and a steak whcih was all very good. I have learned that Costa Rica always seems to have fresh fruits to eat and juices to drink. At this particular restaurant, they had a juice that was made from rice and pineapple. It was quite refreshing and quinched the thirst I had from walking around in the heat. After lunch we traveled to a Souvineer shop where there were handmade Tico masks and other things that are native to Costa Rica. We were supposed to head to a mall but it began to rain so we went back to Veritas.
Sunday night, Viviano took Nate and I to the Multi Plaza which is a mall just outside of Costa Rica. Though most of the stores were closed, we were able to get dinner in the food court. I had rice and beans and chicken. I believe that rice and beans will be a recurring theme in my diet while I am here in Costa Rica. Thankfully I enjoy the taste very much. After the mall it was bedtime because we had our first class in the morning.
Monday class was enjoyable. We also were able to exchange Dollars for Colones at 512 to 1. We had lunch at Veritas, and in the afternoon, we got dressed up for a meeting with CINDE, a non profit organization in Costa Rica. There, we watched a presentation on there role in bringing foriegn investment into CR. I will have another post dedicated specifically to there talk.
I spent the early evening getting my assigned reading done for class. Viviana made dinner which was in her words, pig and vegetables. It tasted like sausage to me. After dinner everyone from Miami met at Pescaditos, a local bar to enjoy some Costa Rican night life.
Today, Tuesday, we had class in the morning and a local Costa Rican came in the afternoon for a lecture on Sustainability in Costa Rica. So far, the lecture and readings are really making me think about how business can be conducted more efficiently and maybe more importantly, how business can benefit from considering the environment when making decisions.
Tonight there is a Dance class that I am planning on attending. Maybe I will learn some Ragae or Salsa!!
To reach downtown San Jose and Veritas University, where we would be staying, we had to take about a half hour bus ride. Darkness kept me from seeing the mountains around us and from just riding around, San Jose seemed pretty similar to American Cities. When we arrived at the University, I met my host mother. Her name was Viviana and she had a tiny Toyota Paseo that myself and my roomate Nate barely fit into with all our luggage. Her house ended up being 3 blocks away from the University and a great location in terms of some things to do in San Jose. I really was expecting a big family with a mother that was older, but Viviana lives mainly by herself except when her mother or boyfriend stay as well and she is only 26 years old. She is a preschool teacher and has been to L.A. and Orlando and speaks english very well which is great because I do not know any spanish.
That first night was very interesting. We went to Subway for dinner which I really did not expect to do in Costa Rica. Then Viviana took us to 2 bars where we met her friends, her boyfriend, and I had my first Imperial, the main domestic beer in Costa Rica. Here, you can buy a beer for as littler as $1.50. The first bar was more relaxed and was part of a restaurant. Oddly enough the bar had pictures of Hilary Clinton, The Beatles, and other famous works of art. The second bar was more of a dance bar and it played a lot of Elvis music.
My room is actually its own littler apartment that she usually rents out and is in the back yard. To get up the stairs to my room I must pass her dog which is very friendly, thankfully. Viviana also has a pet rabbit, it seems that she is an animal lover. My room has two beds, one is a double which will be nice. I have begun to unpack and get myself situated. My room will be very nice because it will be very private and it also has its own bathroom with a shower. So far, I have not been able to get a hot one, but I am still hopeful.
Sunday was also an eventful day. When I awoke, breakfast was already on the table. It was Guyo Pinto, eggs, and bacon. Gallo Pinto is a mixture of rice and beans and every Tico seems to make it their own way. Viviano´s Gallo Pinto was delicious. After breakfast, the group I am with from Miami had an orientation and tour of Veritas University. We then departed by bus for a narrarated tour of Costa Rica which also included some walking of the streets of San Jose. The city seems to be very young and busy, the parks and shops were all very crowded. That afternoon, we ate lunch at a local restaurant. Again, I had rice and beans but also had a salad and a steak whcih was all very good. I have learned that Costa Rica always seems to have fresh fruits to eat and juices to drink. At this particular restaurant, they had a juice that was made from rice and pineapple. It was quite refreshing and quinched the thirst I had from walking around in the heat. After lunch we traveled to a Souvineer shop where there were handmade Tico masks and other things that are native to Costa Rica. We were supposed to head to a mall but it began to rain so we went back to Veritas.
Sunday night, Viviano took Nate and I to the Multi Plaza which is a mall just outside of Costa Rica. Though most of the stores were closed, we were able to get dinner in the food court. I had rice and beans and chicken. I believe that rice and beans will be a recurring theme in my diet while I am here in Costa Rica. Thankfully I enjoy the taste very much. After the mall it was bedtime because we had our first class in the morning.
Monday class was enjoyable. We also were able to exchange Dollars for Colones at 512 to 1. We had lunch at Veritas, and in the afternoon, we got dressed up for a meeting with CINDE, a non profit organization in Costa Rica. There, we watched a presentation on there role in bringing foriegn investment into CR. I will have another post dedicated specifically to there talk.
I spent the early evening getting my assigned reading done for class. Viviana made dinner which was in her words, pig and vegetables. It tasted like sausage to me. After dinner everyone from Miami met at Pescaditos, a local bar to enjoy some Costa Rican night life.
Today, Tuesday, we had class in the morning and a local Costa Rican came in the afternoon for a lecture on Sustainability in Costa Rica. So far, the lecture and readings are really making me think about how business can be conducted more efficiently and maybe more importantly, how business can benefit from considering the environment when making decisions.
Tonight there is a Dance class that I am planning on attending. Maybe I will learn some Ragae or Salsa!!
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