This is the final installment of a three part blog series about certification organizations. This blog post will draw out some conclusions from both trips I took in 2017 and from conversations I have had with coffee professionals and customers. The first blog focused mostly on the 'Fair Trade' certification and my experience visiting coffee growing regions in Mexico (link to blog post here). The second blog post focused mostly on the 'Organic' certification and my experience visiting coffee growing regions in Guatemala (link to blog post here). Before beginning, I must confess that the title of this blog post is misguiding. Though I will make some conclusions about certifications from both of my trips to Mexico and Guatemala, this...
This is the second installment of a three part blog series about certification organizations. This second blog post will focus mostly on the 'Organic' certification and my experiences visiting coffee growing regions in Guatemala. The first blog focused mostly on the 'Fair Trade' certification and my experience visiting coffee growing regions in Mexico (link to blog post here). The final blog post will draw out some conclusions from both trips and from conversations I have had with coffee professionals and customers. Tucked away in Antigua, Guatemala sits Fat Cat Coffee, a quaint coffee shop that served me a delcious macchiato complete with a latte art heart. Though the drink was good, I was there for the conversation. Next to me...
This is the first of three parts in a blog series about certification systems in coffee. This post focuses mostly on the 'Fair Trade' certification and my experience visiting coffee growing regions in Mexico. The second blog post will focus mostly on the 'Organic' certification and my experiences visiting the coffee growing regions in Guatemala. The final blog post will draw some conclusions from both trips and from conversations I have had with coffee professionals and customers. "We saw our production drop by 70% over 3 years; from 40 containers shipped out in 2012 to 15 containers shipped out in 2015." This staggering statistic was shared to me on February 6 in Jaltenango, Mexico by a member of the C.E.S.M.A.C.H....
Statesboro boasts one of the most charming farmer's markets in the South. A slow Saturday morning is caught up in a fun day at the open-air market. It is truly an event worth investing some time in under the warm Georgia sun. You literally can't get any fresher produce than at the farmer's market. The produce that appears in the farmer's market comes from the community and surrounding areas. Fruits and vegetables are not the only products that are sold at the market, however. From baked goods to soap, kettle corn to coffee - these products make the market more than a shopping event: its a fun, family-friendly experience located right in the historical center of Statesboro. Three Tree has...
The Blue Mile is a one mile stretch of South Main Street which leads to Georgia Southern University. The landscape of this mile is diverse, with thriving businesses sharing space with empty lots, ripe for the plucking. This mile is where many prospective students and faculty receive their first impression of what kind of town Georgia Southern occupies. It is important for us to maintain a healthy, welcoming space along this corridor in order to give a warm and inspiring presence to the University and this town. By rejuvenating the Blue Mile, we can show outsiders the potential we are capable of. Statesboro is a growing community which invests in itself. It boasts one of the largest farmers markets in...
