In this video, IL editors Dan Prescher and Suzan Haskins take the drive up past Volcan in Panama’s Chiriqui Province to see the fertile farmlands in the higher reaches. On the way they stop at a strawberry shop, where the owner wastes no time in giving them a guided tour of his vivero and the many things he grows.

With water from the mountain stream, he raises not only strawberries but tomatoes, potatoes, and flowers of all kinds… and occasionally takes trout from the stream as well. After the tour, it’s fresh strawberries with chocolate and cream. This section of Panama is prime farm country that supplies commercial vegetables of all kinds and some of the best coffee on the planet.

Editor’s note: Learn more about Panama and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Simply sign up for IL’s free postcards and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT — Panama: First World Convenience at Third World Prices.