Coffee Delegation members were Bainbridge Island residents Anthony Oddo (far left) and Noreen Andrews (center) as well as a long-time friend of BOSIA, Nancy Eisenman (front) and her grandson, William (back).
When the 2017 Coffee Delegation traveled to Nicaragua from Nov. 28 to Dec. 11, the group of four were treated to 11 fantastic days on Ometepe and had opportunities to explore the mainland cities of Masaya, Granada and Rivas.
The delegation was hosted by David Mitchell and Lisa Giles along with Roberto Mairena, who all shared their extensive knowledge of coffee production and history on Ometepe. In addition to visits to the various coffee farms and cooperatives around the island, the delegation was invited to attend both the Pre-School/6th Grade “Promotion” in Balgüe and the High School Graduation in Merida. Both occasions were fantastic opportunities to visit with old and new friends and experience a celebratory occasion on Ometepe.
The final days of the delegation were spent staying with families around Merida and exploring some of Balgüe and Santo Domingo.
The Coffee Delegation group, led by David Mitchell (center), views the coffee roasting process at the Tostadores de Ometepe roastery in Balgüe.
The Coffee Delegation was invited to attend the high school graduation in Merida during their homestays.