Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2018

an ‘origin trip’ to see where the coffee is grown, so when Randy invited me along, I couldn’t pass it up,” she said. “The culture there was mind-blowing. It gave me more of an appreciation to see what goes into making each bag of coffee we use or sell.” Desi explained that the Menendez family’s farm was much more than just a coffee farm. Each part of their farming process was designed to cre- ate little to no waste. Any plant waste is turned into another usable product, such as tea, fertilizer or fuel for the mill. The family works to support the town around them, providing jobs and electricity to the locals. “Working directly with small producers keeps us more engaged in the process of bringing a high-quality product to our customers,” Randy said. “It’s extremely motivating for us to speak with farmers and not only see their passion for what they do, but to understand their challenges in order to develop a sustainable and hope- fully long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.” A special label In addition to bringing back a wealth of knowledge and new experiences, Desi also procured a rare crop of beans that had been growing wild since 1995. “The Menendez family just bought back some old family land that hadn’t been tended to in over 20 years,” she explained. “While clearing the land they discovered a crop that was surprisingly still good and usable. I purchased six bags, and Evans Brothers created a special label just for us. This is so rare and can never be recreated.” The special Big Blue Coffee Co. bean is a medium roast and only available for a short time. However, for Desi, the adventure to the origin of the beans she works with every day is an experi- ence that will last a lifetime. “I would go back every year if I could,” she said. “Randy and Rick Evans have created a culture and a passion for the coffee industry that is solid, and I’m honored to partner with them to help bring specialty coffee to Kootenai Health.” Desi and her staff are just one example of the many ways Kootenai Health employees strive to provide exceptional care and experience to pa- tients and visitors, from quality patient care to a fantastic cup of coffee. Desi Freeman, Big Blue Coffee Co. manager KH . ORG 9