Welcome to Fair Trade
China International Fair For Investment And Trade Beijing Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
La Minita Coffee – It’s in the Green Beans
from: Jim CameronLa Minita; Spanish for “The Little Gold Mine” says it all. La Minita is arguably the best coffee in the world and is sipped by the who’s who in the specialty coffee industry as well as by those of us who have access to it in our businesses. Similar to the wine industry, the best coffees are not always the most expensive. There are many factors involved in determining the final price of a coffee, unfortunately the quality of the bean is only one of them.
La Minita comes from the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica in Central America. This region has long been known for it’s quality coffee and remains one of the finest growing regions in the world. The La Minita Estate is located at the pinnacle of this region on a spur between two rivers 5700 feet above sea level. The farm actually has several “Micro Climates” within the farm which effect the crop in different ways. The meticulous way in which coffee is grown, pruned, fertilized, shaded, and weeded all add to the final product. Long before “Organic” was popular, this farm was using machetes to cut back weeds rather than chemicals. Long before “fair trade” was popular this farm was treating it’s employees with respect, providing dental and medical resources right on the farm, paying above local scale, providing household items at below cost prices, and encouraged a coffee workers association to promote fair, safe and equitable conditions.
When the “new crop” is in, samples are taken from each of the micro growing regions on the farm and cupped to determine the years mix. The pickers start at daybreak and finish picking about noon. The days harvest is measured from each picker then at a central pick up point and again at the mill. Every La Minita coffee bean arrives at the mill the same day it is picked which is essential in producing the world’s best coffee. The milling process is more meticulous than other mills and the beans are watched at each stage of the preparation. When they have reached the point where most beans would be bagged up and exported, LaMinita enters its final stage. Every bean is looked at by trained coffee sorters who go over and over the beans removing any bean that may taint the final cup.
Unlike the other “exotic” coffees of the world, La Minita is in this category for one reason: QUALITY! I once spent a few days with a farmer from Jamaica who wanted to increase his crop. When he was told how to make his coffee better, he replied: “I can sell every bean I can grow for $17.00 a pound; all I want to do is get more production”. Unfortunately this is often the case in the exotics. Jamaican Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Kona and other exotics demand high prices but way too often do not deliver the cup. LaMinita sells for far less than Jamaican and Kona and is always a superb coffee at a reasonable price. Visit the La Minita web site at: www.laminita.com .
This article is written by Jim Cameron without the permission of La Minita and expresses only the opinions of the Author on what he believes to be the best value coffee in the world. To purchase this coffee green to roast at home, contact: www.u-roast-em.com . To purchase this coffee roasted, contact your local coffee roaster or coffee shop.
About the Author
Jim Cameron is a semi retired Specialty Coffee Roaster who now shares his love of coffee and his love of Costa Rica. His company in the USAsells these beans in raw "green coffee" form to the home roasting trade. He has a home and a small real estate business in the Southern Pacific side of Costa Rica on the OSA Peninsula.
China International Fair For Investment And Trade Beijing News
China's Mr Xi goes to wary Washington - The Guardian
 The Guardian | China's Mr Xi goes to wary Washington The Guardian It's not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg-up on ours only because they're heavily subsidised." Obama said he would create a trade enforcement unit specifically tasked with investigating unfair Chinese trade practices. |
Harper in China: rules of the game - Macleans.ca
 Macleans.ca | Harper in China: rules of the game Macleans.ca Chattin' about the federal budget in Beijing. More of a semi-circle meeting, really. The news came later: “PM Announces Agreement That Will Facilitate Investment Flows Between Canada and China.” This is the semi-mythical FIPA, for Foreign Investment ... Kelly McParland: Trade with China is fine. Trust is not China trip is an opportunity to foster academic co-operation Harper in China: Juggling oil sales and core principles |
SocGen: China's Labor Problems Are About To Get A Lot Worse - Business Insider
 Business Insider | SocGen: China's Labor Problems Are About To Get A Lot Worse Business Insider The World Bank estimates that 49 million rural migrant workers in China lost their jobs between October 2008 and April 2009. But about 24 million of those jobs had been regained by April 2009. The almost 50 percent job recovery was driven by Beijing's ... |
Beijing finds vulnerable ally in Berlin - Asia Times Online
Beijing finds vulnerable ally in Berlin Asia Times Online When meeting Hu, Merkel noted that Germany was holding a Chinese Year of Culture, and that China was the country's partner nation at this year's Hanover Messe trade fair. In a separate meeting with the Merkel on Thursday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao ... |
China-Africa Oil Ties - Council on Foreign Relations
China-Africa Oil Ties Council on Foreign Relations Through significant investment in a continent known for its political and social risks, China has helped many African countries develop their nascent oil sectors while benefiting from that oil through advantageous trade deals. |
China Lone BRIC Among Top Emerging Markets - Bloomberg
 Bloomberg | China Lone BRIC Among Top Emerging Markets Bloomberg Enlarge image China Lone BRIC Among Top Emerging Markets China Lone BRIC Among Top Emerging Markets Nelson Ching/Bloomberg A dragon statue stands in a shopping area in Beijing, China. Attachment: Ranking of Emerging and Frontier Markets Enlarge image ... |
Good reason to red-carpet Merkel - Asia Times Online
Good reason to red-carpet Merkel Asia Times Online The pledge was required by Beijing to guarantee that China will not run away from the European bonds it already holds. In any case, not all Europe is the same. In the whole basket of European bonds, the German ones will be the favorites. |