SCAA Houston - day 1 at the world's largest coffee expo

Apr. 28, 2011 Today was my first day at the SCAA Houston. It's the world's largest coffee expo, so what better place to have it than, TEXAS -- where everything is BIG. Professionals from 20 countries and around 8,000 attendees and 360 exhibitors are expected. It's at the G. R. Brown Convention Center (see photo) - a massive place right in downtown. The featured origin this year is Brazil, so top coffee officials from the largest producer of coffee in the world gave remarks at the welcome reception. I was sit
ting next to the Vice President of the Colombian Coffee Federation, Edgar Cordero. He seemed mildly amused with the Brazilian speaker's comments.

I spent the day volunteering -- first with set-up at the SCAA store and then welcoming and orienting volunteers at the volunteer check-in booth. Both places were fun, since I was meeting people from far and near as they arrived. Then I enjoyed the welcome presentations and the welcome reception -- a Texan sized party with Brazilian dancing and decorations. It's really amazing how this event brings together the top coffee people from around the world.
We did not see the royal wedding in London, but a lovely Houston couple was getting their photographs in the park across the street from the hall!