Toza
Toza is in Aguadulce, 45 minutes away from Los Olivos and host to our mangoes and limes. Aguadulce means “freshwater”. The legend has it that it was so named by Spanish sailors who, after months of drinking salt water, were happy to find a well of freshwater.
Why is Toza important? Location, location, location. The Panamanian authorities are currently planning the construction of a deep-water port to provide shipping facilities for the Pacific side of the country. Currently, the only ports are located in Colon and Panama City.
If You Grow it, they will eat it
Did you know? The Panama hat you see around is not the Panama, but made in Ecuador. It was made popular by President Teddy Roosevelt during the building of the canal. The traditional hat here is called El Sombrero Pintado, the painted hat, and is usually worn by farmers. But it is not only a hat, it is actually a way for the men to express their mood or characteristic about their personality depending on how the brim is rolled.
To give you but a few examples:
The
tradition is so strong that when a man who has been wearing this hat
passes away, the family will buy a new hat to bury him with, while the
family keeps the one worn as a sign of respect. Hats off to you señor.