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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, February 3, 2012 · 18 By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Documentary shows true value of coffee production tional tool to get people a better understanding of where coffee comes from," Pesce said. "Most people don't understand that coffee is a cherry on a tree that has to be picked only when it's absolutely at its ripest because it doesn't ripen when it's off the tree." One tree may be picked between three and seven times over a span of weeks to get all the fruits off, he said. It's then washed, fermented and dried -- all crucial steps to the end product. Not only is there a lack of respect for the production of coffee, Pesce said, the final product is also undervalued. "The price of coffee is so much lower than really (what) it would be if everybody who is helping the process made the kind of money they deserve," he said. "It's probably one of the most labour intensive agricultural products in the world and we can still get it for a $1, $1.50, or $2 a cup." As much work will go into making coffee, if not more, as wine or whiskey, he noted, yet the prices are far apart. As part of his job, Pesce travels to coffee farmers on a regular basis around the world. Reunion Island has a longstanding relationship with Finca La Union in Nicaragua and its owner Reynaldo Fiallos. So, Pesce organized to visit the farm during the harvest season, which in Nicaragua is between January and March, returning recently (mid-January). Because he went to the farm during the harvest season, he was able film the entire production process, from picking to drying. Furthermore, the film is told through people, Pesce said, including Fiallos and his workers. "It helps to add context between him and some Artscene Many of us can't -- or won't -- function without it; yet few of us understand the difficulties faced by the people who make sure we get a cup of coffee. Oakville's Adam Pesce hopes to change that. He doesn't want people to stop drinking coffee. Instead, he wants people to appreciate the work that goes into the world's second most traded commodity. "As a specialty coffee roaster and someone who spends a lot of time in coffee shops, I know that it's a greatly undervalued product. There is a lack of respect people have for the product and the work that goes into it," he said. Pesce has been around coffee for a long time. He's the son in the father-son Reunion Island Coffee business based in Oakville. The business buys coffee directly from the farmers, cutting out the middleman. That direct relationship with coffee growers has helped Pesce greatly in filming a documentary on the coffee business. Pesce and filmmaker Kevin Healy travelled to one of Reunion Island's coffee sources in Nicaragua and shot a 15-minute film that will be made available online for free. "I always had this dream of doing a documentary on coffee," he said. He admits there have already been documentaries on coffee, but they have either focused on the technical side of production or they delved into the business and the socio-economic impacts of coffee. With his film, which is currently untitled, he aims to bridge the gap. "I want to make a movie to serve as an educa- SUBMITTED PHOTO ripe for the picking: Local documentarian Adam Pesce (left) recently visited this Nicaraguan coffee farm owned by Reynaldo Fiallos (right) for his documentary on the coffee business and how it gets from the plant to your cup. Pesce is co-owner of the father-and-son-run Reunion Island Coffee in Oakville. The currently untitled documentary, shot by filmmaker Kevin Kealy, will be made available online for viewing for free. of the workers on the farm and hearing what their hopes and dreams are and how coffee is helping them attain it," he said. Reunion Island is producing the film. However, Pesce says it is not a promotional piece meant to benefit his and his father's coffee business. He will eventually upload the film online where people will be able to see it for free. Pesce says he will consider entering it into festivals, as well as hold screenings and potentially sell hard copies of the documentary. Pesce added that any money made from DVD sales or screenings would go to a non-profit charity that supports coffee farmers. For more information, visit www. reunionislandcoffee.com. BigNamesSmallTheatre WOMEN FULLY CLOTHED February 3 ~ COCO LOVE ALCORN February 18 EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW February 24 ~ RHYTHM OF THE DANCE February 25 All performances are at THE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS To order tickets call: 905-815-2021 or go to www.oakvillecentre.ca