Welcome to our exploration of Costa Rican coffee history. As stewards of this legacy, we can't ignore the past—it's our guide for today and tomorrow. After all, as the saying goes, "Those Who Do Not Learn History Are Doomed To Repeat It." So, let's dive into the story of Costa Rica's coffee journey, from its humble beginnings to its modern-day challenges and aspirations.
Discovering Costa Rica's Coffee Beginnings
Costa Rica sits between South and Central/North America, blending Meso-American and South American cultures. Before coffee, our country relied on farming to survive. But in 1808, everything changed with the arrival of the Arabica plant, making Costa Rica a coffee powerhouse in Central America. This golden bean, called "el grano de oro," put Costa Rica on the global map.
Costa Rican Government, or we should say: Coffee Oligarchy.
With the rise of coffee, a new labor class emerged. As is typical in our societal structure, the majority of the benefits were enjoyed by a select group of elites—descendants of conquerors and landowners. This laid the groundwork for the formation of the coffee oligarchy in our country.
At first, they began growing and selling coffee, but soon recognized the inherent risks of agriculture. The Costa Rican government, aligned closely with the coffee oligarchy, viewed coffee production as vital for the country's growth. In 1825, they encouraged people to cultivate coffee by distributing free plants and land. However, this widened the gap between farmers and buyers, granting exporters the authority to dictate prices and oversee exports
Starting Coffee Cooperatives: Working Together
To fight this inequality, coffee farmers started cooperatives in 1902. These groups helped farmers work together to grow and sell coffee. But even with cooperatives, the gap between buyers and farmers remained, leading to rules to control prices.
The arrival of the Green Revolution in the 1970s brought about a shift towards monoculture, leading to deforestation and economic dependence on volatile coffee prices. In response, Costa Rica sought new economic avenues in the 1990s and early 2000s, striving to break free from the shackles of coffee-centricity and embark on a path towards sustainability and diversified prosperity.
Building a Stronger Future: writing a new Costa Rica coffee History
Costa Rica is working to make things better. By bringing buyers and farmers closer together, they hope to make the economy fairer. They want to honor Costa Rica's coffee history while finding new ways to make money and protect the environment.
At Dota Coffee Company, as producers, we are taking on the responsibility of providing complete added value to our product. Taking into account the available information and teamwork, we are learning and assuming the responsibilities involved in working as marketers/exporters to generate a sustainable income that justifies the production of high-quality coffee. We hope that we can serve as inspiration for other coffee producers and see how far they can go with their own products.
Comments