Journey in Honduras
Honduras kicked off the 2024 edition of our Ambassador Programme. It was here that some of our people, from all over the world, went on an exciting journey to visit the coffee plantations, an experience that also gave them the chance to discover this country’s history and the many challenges it has faced, and to appreciate firsthand the passion driving the farmers and the commitment of the Group and the Lavazza Foundation to the future of local communities.
Set like a jewel in the heart of Central America, Honduras is a paradise of biodiversity where luxuriant rain forests guard the majestic remains of the Mayan civilization. A fascinating tapestry of nature and architecture, of traditions and modernity, of contrasting wealth and poverty that our ambassadors experienced as soon as they arrived in San Pedro Sula, capital of the Cortés Department and beating heart of the Honduran economy. After a short break, it was off to Santa Rosa Copán. Here, in the vibrant green of the plantations and the no less vibrant atmosphere of the local co-operatives, the group were initiated into the secrets of coffee: painstaking care of the coffee bushes, harvesting of the ripe drupes, pulping, fermentation, washing, and drying in the sun in the courtyards of the fincas. They tried some traditional cooking and tasted various coffee blends, as well as sharing in the farmers’ work, including the harvesting of the precious beans and the laborious process of raking them to prevent mould from forming. It was an intense experience that revealed the hard work and passion behind every sip of espresso coffee.
The warm welcome in fincas and the visit to the IHCAFE Research Centre gave the group the chance to learn about the farmers’ stories and day-to-day challenges. One such challenge is climate change, which at these latitudes affects the bushes’ delicate flowering process and also triggers extreme meteorological events, from destructive flooding to the stranglehold of drought. But the coffee producers respond with courage and passion, not least thanks to support in the form of research, Lavazza Foundation programmes and the efforts of local partners to achieve sustainable cropping and the wellbeing of the farmers’ families, with a special focus on the roles of women and young people.
It was a journey midway between education and cultural exploration in which coffee was the leitmotiv, but not the only aspect. The last few days revealed the magnificence of Copán, an archaeological site symbolizing the Mayan civilization, and the beauty of the Macaw Mountain Park, a paradise of colour in which the Ara macaw, the pride of Honduras, is a protected species. What a perfect epilogue to an adventure that brought together such different interests and gave us unforgettable emotions.
