Today, we left the little town of
Boquete.
We then ventured into the mountains north of town until we reached the small
village of Jardin.
Climbing even higher
into the mountains, we could see the plantations of coffee, most of which were
on the sides of the hills at a good 80 degree angle,
which happens to be great for the flow of water.
Reaching the top of the mountain, we
came to the Sitton coffee factory, one of the largest factories in Panama.
We were then taken on a tour by a very nice man named Raphel.
We watched as the workers brought in bags of beans which were measured and they
were paid and sent on their way.
The beans were then sent on belts to a holding room.
The workers then shoveled
the beans into water troughs where they were separated. There are
two beans in each pod and they are then dried in big tumblers and bagged.
The beans are then sent to
Panama City to be roasted and then back to the factory and packaged for shipping
around the world.
This all looks so easy,
but when you start at the beginning and see the families at work it really makes
every cup of coffee the best.
The young and the old walk the sides of the hills picking the beans,
filling their bags,
and then crawling on their bellies, they slide under barbed wire fences dragging
their bags behind them.
They then carry the bags
to a small turnoff on the road halfway up the hill, waiting for a truck to take
them the rest of the way.
Even the children must work.
Most of them have a five gallon bucket on their back
and a smile on their face.
We are so thankful for the pictures that we were able to get as most of
the Indians won't permit their photos to be taken.