Friends in high places

As the plane was preparing to land at the Panama City, Panama airport last month, the passenger next to me called me a great “35,000-foot friend.” That was his name for one of those people who you sit next to on a plane, have great, often profound conversations with, and then never see again after collecting your luggage and leaving the airport. Yet the dialogue leaves an indelible mark on your brain, resurfacing as you move through the following days, perhaps even months. Oftentimes, short conversations or visits are the ones that you remember the best and have the greatest impact.

Among other topics, my new friend and I talked about coffee. Although I don’t drink coffee, he told me stories about visiting growers that I could relate to and other interesting anecdotes about his global coffee journeys. I was blown away by how much detailed work goes into a simple cup of joe, from the careful pruning of the shrub to the minutia that makes all the difference in the roasting process. He had worked his way up through the ranks quickly, despite having no experience in the industry, and was headed to a few farms to teach roasting workshops and impart horticultural tips to growers and roasters to improve their coffee quality, as he had become somewhat of an expert. Interestingly enough, he had found the job through Craigslist several years ago, where his future employer had posted it in hopes of attracting someone with a different background than the usual candidate.

We also ended up finding out that we were similar in age and had a lot in common, which led to other interesting discussions about life in general. I stepped off the plane with a fresh perspective and energy to spare.

My 35,000-foot friend reminded me that we shouldn’t be afraid to try something new just because we’ve never done it before or don’t have the right degree. That goes for taking a trip to a place where you don’t speak the language, trying a new production method, enrolling in a class or whatever else you’ve been meaning to do, but need an extra push to take action.

Want to learn more about vertical farms? Turn to page 6. Interested in growing unique cucumbers? See page 14. Thinking about expanding your operation into hydroponic growing? Check out our State of Hydroponic Produce Growing starting on page 21, filled with industry research and grower profiles.

Happy summer!

kvarga@gie.net | (216) 393-0290
Twitter: @Karen_GIE