Monday, January 28, 2008

Cuzalapa Organic Coffee Cooperative

Cuzalapa is the site of a very old shade grown coffee plantation that grows organic Arabica beans. Cuzalapa is a little over an hour from Melaque off highway 80 to the south-east of La Huerta on the northern edge of the Manantlan Biosphere Reserve.


The coffee is grown under the shade of a large variety of other trees and the women of the Cooperative offer an hour long walking tour. They will tell you about the many plants, trees, herbs and even some of the human stories related to the area and their ancestors that lived there. Take some repellant for the tour.


The coffee crop is late this year due to colder temperatures but they did have a few kilos for us. It's a good idea to call first if your are going for coffee and not just to visit the area. Later in the year there will be plenty after the gringos leave and there is less of a market. The season can run from December through May/June. The women also sell clothing, honey, Jamica and preserves.


Coffee on the tree


Walking thru the shade


Drying coffee on the roof


Coming into Cuzapala


Web page with more fotos of Cuzapala


Costalegre, Jalisco Mexico
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The Costalegre

I have long thought that Costalegre was an agreed upon catch word for the Costa Alegre. Now I'm finding there is another long time standard, Coastecomates. This is about that area as well.


The stretch of coastline located between Costa Majahuas and Cihuatlán is the Costalegre or “happy coast.” Others describe the Costalegre as the area between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. Either way it is still "the happy coast". Pacific Coast of Mexico

Sparks Costalegre
Sparks Mexico Web