September 30, 2009

We arrived at Santa Anita la Union around 3PM yesterday. We were quickly greeted by our good friend and community leader, Rigo.

Rigo gave us a short tour of the improvements at Santa Anita. They have made great improvements on their coffee processing system and organic compost production. Santa Anita was so efficient with the grant we gave them to construct the new processing area that they were able to repave their drying patio.
In addition, we were able to see first hand the work done by the Tufts students with funding from Pura Vida and others. This included a computer center and new coffee plants to renew their land.
Before dinner, we had the opportunity to sit down with a few leaders of Santa Anita and leaders from another coop called Empresa Campesina El Nuevo Renacimiento. This is a coop of roughly 30 families and they are located about 1.5 hours outside of Santa Anita up in the mountains. We had a great discussion with them about their coffee and we expect to receive a green sample in Seattle in about 10 days for us to test. We hope to visit their community on our next trip to Guatemala.
The evening concluded with a wonderful dinner of black beans, eggs, fried banana, and corn tortillas.
We are now off for a meeting in Xela.
Sam Snyder
Director of Marketing & Philathropy


New drying patio @ Santa Anita

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Post tags: coffee, fair trade, guatemala

Cooperative Nahuala

September 29, 2009

After a great nights rest and a healthy breakfast this morning, we headed out to cooperative Nahuala.

The coop’s leaders and some members warmly greeted us and presented us with a detailed description of the coop’s history and current status.
The 50 women coop members have their own brand called “Café Femenino”. The coop is committed to empowering women and girls throughout their communities.
The coop has three major goals; increasing their micro credit capacity to the 50 women members, renovating their land over the next three years, and investing in their library.
During our meeting we enjoyed a cup of coffee and a wonderful piece of a traditional Guatemalan bread called “sheca”.
This was a very productive visit and I expect to be in contact with them throughout the next couple of months discussing their coffee quality, projects, and how Pura Vida can be involved.
We are now on our way to coop Santa Anita la Union.
Sam Snyder
Director of Marketing & Philathropy
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Post tags: coffee, fair trade, guatemala, organic

Guatemala: Fedecocagua and Anacafe



Coffee Tasting with Fedecocagua

We landed in Guatemala City at 11:30 yesterday morning. After finding Hugo, our trusted guide and translator, we headed out for a meeting with Fedecocagua, a cooperative of small coffee producers.
Our visit was very informative and included a coffee cupping as well as an impromptu wine tasting. We also learned about the social efforts of the organizations foundation.
After our meeting with Fedecocagua we left for a meeting with Anacafe, the coffee certifier for Guatemala. Anacafe is doing much to help producers and is having great success increasing the quality of Guatemalan coffee.
I look forward to seeing Pura Vida’s relationship develop with both of these organizations.
Thank you for your support.
Sam Snyder
Director of Marketing & Philanthropy
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Post tags: coffee, fair trade, guatemala, organic, pura vida

Off to Guatemala

September 22, 2009



We are heading to Guatemala late Sunday night. We will be visiting with Anacafe and three coops during our visit, as well as meeting with Fotokids and As Green As It Gets.
The three coops that we are visiting are Nahuala, Santa Anita la Union, and Associacion Chajulense Va’l Vag Qujol. Our goals are to continue to strengthen our relationships with these farming communities, look for areas where we can invest that will strengthen the communities, and of course search for high quality coffee beans.
I will try and update this blog each day to give you a daily snapshot of our trip.
Thank you for your interest and support.
Kindly,
Sam Snyder
Director of Marketing & Philanthropy
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Post tags: coffee, fair trade, guatemala, organic, pura vida

Coming in October

September 2, 2009

Coming in October
A new look and a tastier bean. Stay tuned!



Posted in: Our Coffee | | Comments (0)
Post tags: coffee, fair trade, pura vida

Clean Water for Masapia



In Masapia, a rural community of Nicaragua, clean water can be hard to find. The people of Masapia
were consuming contaminated drinking water and thus at-risk of serious waterborne illnesses until now.
With your help, Pura Vida rehabilitated the community’s well and now over 100 people are receiving
the benefit of clean water.
Thank you for supporting Pura Vida Coffee and our efforts to help those in need!
Sincerely,
Sam
Create Good.
Every Cup. Every Day.
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Post tags: coffee, Create Good, fair trade, nicaragua, pura vida