5.7 Spatial Organization of Agriculture

• Currently, Panama isn't part of a transnational corporation.

• Panama hasn't had any technological advancements that they made, only inventions inherited from other countries.

Flow Chart

Coffee Cultivation:

• • Planting of coffee seeds or seedlings in suitable coffee-growing regions of Panama.

  • Cultivation practices including soil preparation, planting, pruning, and pest control.

Growing and Maintenance:

• • Care and maintenance of coffee plants including irrigation, fertilization, and weed control.

  • Monitoring for diseases and pests, and application of appropriate treatments.

Harvesting:

• • Selective hand-picking of ripe coffee cherries by farm workers during the harvest season.

  • Sorting of cherries to ensure only ripe ones are collected.

Processing:

• • Depulping: Removal of the outer skin (pulp) from the coffee cherries to reveal the beans.

  • Fermentation: Soaking the beans in water to remove mucilage and enhance flavor.

  • Washing: Cleaning the fermented beans to stop the fermentation process.

  • Drying: Sun-drying or mechanical drying of the beans until they reach an optimal moisture content.

Milling:

• • Hulling: Removal of the parchment layer from the dried beans.

  • Polishing: Optional process to remove any remaining outer layers and improve appearance.

  • Grading and Sorting: Sorting the beans based on size, weight, and quality.

Exporting:

• • Packaging: Packing the processed coffee beans into sacks or containers for transportation.

  • Quality Control: Inspection and certification of coffee beans to meet export standards.

  • Export Documentation: Preparation of export documentation including permits, certificates, and invoices.

Transportation:

• • Land Transportation: Transporting coffee beans from processing facilities to ports or airports for export.

  • Export Logistics: Arranging shipping or air transport to deliver the coffee beans to international markets.

Roasting and Packaging:

• • Importing: Coffee beans are imported by roasters or coffee companies in destination countries.

  • Roasting: Roasting the green coffee beans to develop flavor and aroma profiles.

  • Packaging: Packaging roasted coffee beans or ground coffee into bags, cans, or other consumer containers.

Distribution and Retail:

• • Distribution: Distribution of packaged coffee to wholesalers, retailers, and other buyers.

  • Retail Sales: Sale of coffee products to consumers through coffee shops, supermarkets, online stores, etc.

Consumption:

• • Brewing: Preparation of coffee by consumers using various methods such as drip brewing, espresso, or French press.

  • Enjoyment: Consumption of coffee by individuals or groups for its flavor, aroma, and stimulating effects.