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Permalink Reply by Spencer on February 27, 2008 at 6:23pm

If you consider going to Brasil, you should look at Ipanema and Daterra.

Most traders, exporters, and cooperatives will not confirm their customers either due to a confidentiality agreement or professional courtesy.

If you are set on Central America, you should concentrate on Costa Rica.

I hope that helps.......

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Permalink Reply by Bel Townsend on February 28, 2008 at 3:50am

thanks for that - I kinda gathered that would be the case at least from the farmers' point of view. I just hoped that the retail companies themselves would be more forthcoming - they all claim to use 'traceable coffee' after all!
The smaller plantation I want to see is in Nicaragua, and due to time/money constraints, Costa Rica or Guatemala or something would be a lot easier to get to. Also, with regards to Brasil, I can't speak Portuguese!!

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Permalink Reply by Spencer on February 28, 2008 at 2:02pm

You will find that at most commercial farms and processing facilities (fincas and beneficios) you can find someone who speaks English, this is true in Central America and Brasil.

Think of traceability as a process control and not a marketing or advertising program.

All the best!

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Permalink Reply by Ashlind on March 10, 2008 at 9:22am

I had the same problem trying to see a starbucks farm but starbucks does buy from mostly small scale farms. I recommend contacting the Peace Core as well as the Coffee Associations of whatever country you decide to visit. In Panama I have a contact in the peace core that is working on coffee finca ( not sure how large, I'll e-mail him and ask) Also there is a non profit called CAN that might have some info ?????

Going to origin can be frustrating when you are on a mission to find one specific comparision. It seems you find everything else. Keep your heart in it and it'll come. Time works differently down there.

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Permalink Reply by Pablo Castaneda on March 24, 2008 at 12:40pm

I can help you there , I can give you access to my plantations. let me know. go to www.kafesguatemala.com

take care

Pablo

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Permalink Reply by Bel Townsend on March 25, 2008 at 4:44am

Thanks for all the advice guys, but I think I'm sorted.
Pablo - do your plantations supply any of the big chains? PM me if you want!

The plan at the moment is to go to Nicaragua, I know of an NGO who support a co-op owned plantation there which is organic/shade grown and fair trade, and very very small. And then, off to Costa Rica, where (i think) I've found a much larger plantation who claim that 60% of their crop goes to Starbucks. This could all change though, I'm heading out in November in time for the harvest, so basically anything could happen in the next 8 months!!

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Permalink Reply by Pablo Castaneda on March 25, 2008 at 6:51am

I guess u r set then , very good .

take care and enjoy Costa Rica.

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Permalink Reply by Nicki Cole on June 1, 2008 at 8:31am

Bel, I just read this interesting back and forth between you and others about your search for a large plantation to visit. Looks like you've got it figured out, but just wanted to share with you some advice that one of my advisers recently imparted to me.

Be very careful in your dealings at the big plantation. As I'm sure you are aware, the bigger the plantation, the worse the conditions for workers, and the more the owners have at stake in protecting their public image. I'm not sure what exactly it is you are planning to observe there, or who you wish to talk to, but even attempting to talk to workers, especially on the plantation, can be dangerous to both you and them. Workers often experience intimidation tactics, including threats of violence, in situations such as this.

So, just wanted to recommend that you tread lightly and with extreme caution and forethought on this trip. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Gilberto Baraona on August 12, 2008 at 8:37pm

El salvador sells coffee to england, you can find both small and large farms.
5 years ago y exported large amounts of sepcialty coffee to nestle England.

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Permalink Reply by Alexa Baehr on October 27, 2008 at 10:32am

Hi Bel,

Our coffee shop has come across an amazing organization in Central America/ Mexico called Sexto Sol. This organization promotes sustainable living and is definitely worth checking out at: http://sextosol.org/

Best of luck to you!

~ Alexa

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Permalink Reply by Mike Gregory on February 21, 2009 at 11:32am

While in Nicaragua, make sure you get in touch with Cecocafen, an umbrella org comprised of a dozen co-ops. They sell to small guys and large national chains such as Starbucks.

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