Day 15

        Today we went on a tour of the Chiquita Banana Plantation.  It was very interesting to notice the differences between the operations of the Earth Banana Plantation and the Chiquita Banana Plantation. One of the differences was that  the workers get paid for the quantity they produce. We also learned that the use of pesticides is a lot more common in the Chiquita factory compared to Earth´s plantation. Rather than making the excess bananas into baby food or using the stems into papers, the Chiquita factory sells the ¨unfit¨ bananas to local vendors.

Our group in a Chiquita Banana container, ready to be shipped! 

            After a long three hour bus ride delayed by workers  protesting (after being laid off without pay from a Chiquita plantation) and road construction, our ride came to an end at the cocoa plantation. There we learned about the process of growing and producing cocoa. For example, plantains were also grown within the farmland beside the cocoa plants. This was so that the soil of the area becomes richer and fertile for higher quality cocoa. As we walked through the farmland, we saw many different colors of cocoa fruit, which indicated different cacao species and hybrids species. 

After a tour around the farm, we were able to taste the sweetness of the natural cocoa flavor in a form of hot chocolate. This elicited cravings amongst our fellow youth leaders. As we enjoyed a touch of the natural hot cocoa, the owner of the farm gave a presentation of the production of the cocoa into various chocolate products. First, the cacao seeds are dried and peeled. After this, the seeds are grinded into chocolate powder or crushed into solid natural chocolate. During this process, you can add sugar or milk into chocolate.

                Although, we had some inconvient traffic, everyone enjoyed the chocolate filled end.