No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveSustainable coffee opens markets for small producers in Costa Rica's capital

Sustainable coffee opens markets for small producers in Costa Rica’s capital

A group of 14 families from the canton of Desamparados, south of San José, are producing coffee in a new processing center, or beneficio, using sustainable procedures that have attracted them buyers from Japan, Taiwan, Switzerland, Australia and the United States.

The group created the Farmers Association of La Violeta de Desamparados (AGRIVID), and their processing involves environmentally friendly practices that allow them, for example, to use only 8 liters of water to process a 46-kilogram coffee sack.

“Traditional methods used by larger beneficios could take up to a thousand liters per sack,” AGRIVID member Gilbert Núñez said.

The group is growing various coffee varieties at 1,400-1,600 meters above sea level.

“Ours is not a large quantity operation, but very selective with lots of quality coffee, which allows us to place our coffee at very good prices both in domestic and international markets” Núñez added.

AGRIVID members launched their business in 2002, when two of the biggest beneficios in the area closed due to a severe decrease in international coffee prices.

Members then started an even smaller operation that involved taking coffee to beneficios in the area, which meant high production costs for transportation, extra staff, and time spent traveling.

The new center was inaugurated last weekend and was built with a ₡10 million ($20,000) donation by the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry.

In addition, members designed a water-disposal method that processes the liquid and makes it apt for irrigating coffee plantations.

Coffee pulp also is being used as a natural fertilizer, and the beans’ skin is used as fuel for coffee-drying ovens. Some of the coffee also is sun-dried.

Núñez said the new beneficio is a significant improvement for the operation, and in transportation and staff expenses alone, producers are saving some ₡6-7 million ($12,000-$14,000) on each lot.

Trending Now

Panama Union Files Lawsuits Against Chiquita Over Mass Layoffs

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, will meet in Brazil with U.S. banana company Chiquita Brands in search of an agreement for the company to...

Honduras Community Demands Justice in Environmental Murder Case

Three defendants accused of murdering an environmental activist in Honduras 11 months ago appeared before a court this Thursday for a preliminary hearing, the...

Fan Violence in Latin American Football Spurs Debate on Security and Culture

Images of a fan jumping from the stands to escape a beating as bottles, rocks and seats fly through the air at a game...

In Costa Rica, Rare White-Lipped Peccaries Still Survive

Today we meet the white-lipped peccary, a large animal that travels in large groups that has disappeared from a large part of its historical...

Honduras agrees to receive migrants under new US deportation agreement

The US has signed a new deportation agreement with Honduras, allowing officials to send migrants from other countries there instead of keeping them in...

Costa Rica’s Role in US Deportation Drama with Salvadoran Migrant

A Salvadoran man at the center of a heated US immigration battle could end up in Costa Rica if he accepts a guilty plea,...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica