The Chirripó-Brunca region snuggles down in the south end of Costa Rica, sharing borders with Panama. Tropical, sweetened by sea breezes, mysterious with the history and artifacts of ancient cultures, it is named after the Brunca (Borunca) people whose ancient ancestors ruled most of the Pacific coast of what is now Costa Rica. Like those ancestors, they’re are craftsmen and artists, and are famous for their weaving and for painted wooden masks.
In Costa Rica, participating in an auction-style system allows individual farmers to submit their best coffees of the year to be evaluated for purchase by a panel of coffee buyers. The number of participating producers grows each year, which is a great thing for them and for the specialty coffee value chain; farmers receive more sustainable prices for exceptional coffees, and the auction system increases transparency and traceability in sourcing and trading.