Santa Rita Copan Regional Coffee Competition MARCH 28 - 30, 2007

I went to the Santa Rita Copan Regional Coffee Competition as a guest buyer and in that it was near my farm it was convenient for me as well. This was my first experience with Coffee competitions and as it went along the three days it grew to wall to wall proportions.

The hall at EL Hacienda Jaral was filled with Growers; many my friends as well as the representatives of various groups with processing equipment and espresso machines. I believe many did not sleep much those nights due to the free flowing coffee. Many Hondurans had never had espresso or cappuccino before this day. The event was well covered by the local news.

Arnold Pas director of ETEA Santa Rita and Arondo Holmes at the end of Santa Rita Copan Regional Coffee Competition with his first contract of purchase for coffee 1.75 per pound direct to growers.

I found myself swamped the first day with growers that were trying to sell coffee from their respective farms direct to a roaster. I saw the need and willingness of the growers to provide great coffee direct for the outlet for it is small. Many tons of excellent coffee worth two to three times the NYBOT prices was available there with few buyers.

I had begun my Certified grower program to aid me in obtaining chemical free coffee raised to excellent standards as well as a study in the transformation of poor quality farms into high quality ones and others for their new farms on first and second crop. We guarantee a premium price at the beginning of the season so the growers know what they will receive. I set the minimum at $1.75 which thrilled them. Further I will try to direct market any coffee that scores over 90 for them. Coffee need not be exploitive. I see enough money in the business for all.

The competition was well attended
with Judges from Costa Rica Columbia
with 90 coffees entered and hundreds
of local attendees