Coffee production in Cuba

Last updated

Cuban coffee Cafe cubano de la marca Cubita Gourmet.JPG
Cuban coffee
A cup of espresso prepared with Cuban coffee Cuban coffee- 2013-04-05 14-30.jpg
A cup of espresso prepared with Cuban coffee

Coffee has been grown in Cuba since the mid-18th century. Boosted by French farmers fleeing the revolution in Haiti, coffee farms expanded from the western plains to the nearby mountain ranges. [1] Coffee production in eastern Cuba significantly increased during the 19th and early 20th centuries. At its peak production, Cuba exported more than 20,000 metric tons (22,046 short tons) of coffee beans per year in the mid-1950s. After the Cuban Revolution and the nationalization of the coffee industry, coffee production slowly began to decline until it reached all time lows during the Great Recession. Once a major Cuban export, it now makes up an insignificant portion of Cuban trade. By the 21st century, 92 percent of the country's coffee was grown in area of the Sierra Maestra mountains. All Cuban coffee is exported by Cubaexport, which pays regulated prices to coffee growers and processors.

Contents

History

José Antonio Gelabert introduced the first coffee plant to Cuba in 1748. By 1791, French colonists, fleeing the abolition of slavery during the Haitian Revolution, introduced better coffee production methods to Cuba. [2] Coffee production in eastern Cuba during the 19th and early 20th centuries "resulted in the creation of a unique cultural landscape, illustrating a significant stage in the development of this form of agriculture." As such, UNESCO has listed the "Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba" as a World Heritage Site since 2000. [3]

After the outbreak of the World War I in 1914 (and especially after German Empire declared an unrestricted submarine warfare in 1915), the export of Cuban goods (including coffee) to Europe proved difficult.

Prior to the Castro era, Cuba's coffee industry prospered. In the mid-1950s, Cuba was exporting more than 20,000 metric tons (22,046 short tons) of coffee beans per year. [4] Cuban coffee was sold at premium prices on world markets. [4] Much of that coffee was exported to Europe, particularly the Netherlands and Germany.

Following Cuban Revolution in 1959, coffee production in Cuba declined [5] largely because of the dissolution of large farms and a disincentive for small farm production. [6] As a result, Cuban coffee producers began mixing coffee beans with roasted peas. [5] Mixing coffee beans with peas remained a staple in Cuba until pure coffee returned to the Cuban ration books in 2005. [5] Rising Robusta prices led to the return of roasted peas to Cuban coffee in 2011. [5]

In 1962 the United States placed an embargo on all goods imported from Cuba, [4] further damaging the Cuban coffee industry. [6] During the embargo, Cuban coffee was not prevalent in the US market. [4]

Dissolution of the Soviet Union caused a major decline in Cuban coffee production, going from 440,000 60-kg bags of coffee in the 19891990 production cycle to eventually reaching an all-time low of 7,000 bags during the 20072008 cycle. The production of Cuban coffee has since rebounded to between 100,000 and 130,000 bags per year due to government investment in increased coffee production including raising coffee prices and providing better equipment. [6]

Production

Both robusta (pictured) and arabica are produced in Cuba Vallee de Vinales-Cafe Robusta (3).jpg
Both robusta (pictured) and arabica are produced in Cuba

By the 21st century, 92 percent of the country's coffee was grown in areas of the Sierra Maestra mountains, especially under forest canopies. [7] The coffee harvest runs September through January, peaking in October and November. [8]

The island produces both arabica and robusta beans, with most production coming from small family farms. [9] In 2003, Cuba began exporting organic coffee to Europe and Japan, with more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) certified as organic. Centered in the eastern portion of the island, the area produced 93 metric tons (103 short tons) of organic coffee that was selling at prices 40% higher than the standard Cuban coffee. [10]

According to the FAO, the total number of hectares where coffee is harvested in Cuba has fallen from 170,000 hectares (420,000 acres) in 1961 to 28,000 hectares (69,000 acres) in 2013. [11]

Distribution

All coffee from Cuba is exported by Cubaexport, which pays a government-regulated, fixed price to coffee growers and processors for their coffee. [12] Currently, Japan and France are Cuba's major coffee export markets, with smaller amounts going to Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. [12]

Domestic distribution is currently limited to two ounces of coffee rations every 15 days for Cuban citizens. [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Australia</span> Overview of agriculture in Australia

Although Australia is mostly arid, the nation is a major agricultural producer and exporter, with over 325,300 people employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing as of February 2015. Agriculture and its closely related sectors earn $155 billion a year for a 12% share of GDP. Farmers and grazers own 135,997 farms, covering 61% of Australia's landmass. Across the country, there is a mix of irrigation and dry-land farming. The success of Australia in becoming a major agricultural power despite the odds is facilitated by its policies of long-term visions and promotion of agricultural reforms that greatly increased the country's agricultural industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Cuba</span>

Agriculture in Cuba has played an important part in the economy for several hundred years. Today, it contributes less than 10% to the gross domestic product (GDP), but it employs about 20% of the working population. About 30% of the country's land is used for crop cultivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Sri Lanka</span>

The primary form of agriculture in Sri Lanka is rice production. Rice is cultivated during Maha and Yala seasons. Tea is cultivated in the central highlands and is a major source of foreign exchange. Vegetables, fruits and oilseed crops are also cultivated in the country. There are two Agriculture Parks abbreviated as A. Parks established by the Department of Agriculture. Out of the total population in Sri Lanka, 27.1% engages in agricultural activities. Agriculture accounted for 7.4% of the GDP in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in the Philippines</span>

Agriculture in the Philippines is a major sector of the economy, ranking third among the sectors in 2022 behind only Services and Industry. Its outputs include staples like rice and corn, but also export crops such as coffee, cavendish banana, pineapple and pineapple products, coconut, sugar, and mango. The sector continues to face challenges, however, due to the pressures of a growing population. As of 2022, the sector employs 24% of the Filipino workforce and it accounted for 8.9% of the total GDP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Taiwan</span>

Agriculture is one of the main industries in Taiwan. It contributes to the food security, rural development and conservation of Taiwan. Around 24% of Taiwan's land is used for farming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Ethiopia</span> Overview of agriculture in Ethiopia

Agriculture in Ethiopia is the foundation of the country's economy, accounting for half of gross domestic product (GDP), 83.9% of exports, and 80% of total employment.

Uganda's favorable soil conditions and climate have contributed to the country's agricultural success. Most areas of Uganda have usually received plenty of rain. In some years, small areas of the southeast and southwest have averaged more than 150 millimeters per month. In the north, there is often a short dry season in December and January. Temperatures vary only a few degrees above or below 20 °C but are moderated by differences in altitude.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Indonesia</span>

Indonesia was the fourth-largest producer of coffee in the world in 2014. Coffee cultivation in Indonesia began in the late 1600s and early 1700s, in the early Dutch colonial period, and has played an important part in the growth of the country. Indonesia is geographically and climatologically well-suited for coffee plantations, near the equator and with numerous interior mountainous regions on its main islands, creating well-suited microclimates for the growth and production of coffee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Bolivia</span>

The role of agriculture in the Bolivian economy in the late 1980s expanded as the collapse of the tin industry forced the country to diversify its productive and export base. Agricultural production as a share of GDP was approximately 23 percent in 1987, compared with 30 percent in 1960 and a low of just under 17 percent in 1979. The recession of the 1980s, along with unfavorable weather conditions, particularly droughts and floods, hampered output. Agriculture employed about 46 percent of the country's labor force in 1987. Most production, with the exception of coca, focused on the domestic market and self-sufficiency in food. Agricultural exports accounted for only about 15 percent of total exports in the late 1980s, depending on weather conditions and commodity prices for agricultural goods, hydrocarbons, and minerals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Paraguay</span>

Throughout its history, agriculture in Paraguay has been the mainstay of the economy. This trend has continued today and in the late 1980s the agricultural sector generally accounted for 48 percent of the nation's employment, 23 percent of GDP, and 98 percent of export earnings. The sector comprised a strong food and cash crop base, a large livestock subsector including cattle ranching and beef production, and a vibrant timber industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rice production in Thailand</span>

Rice production in Thailand represents a significant portion of the Thai economy and labor force. In 2017, the value of all Thai rice traded was 174.5 billion baht, about 12.9% of all farm production. Of the 40% of Thais who work in agriculture, 16 million of them are rice farmers by one estimate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Panama</span> Economic sector in Panama

Agriculture in Panama is an important sector of the Panamanian economy. Major agricultural products include bananas, cocoa beans, coffee, coconuts, timber, beef, chicken, shrimp, corn, potatoes, rice, soybeans, and sugar cane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Mexico</span>

The coffee production in Mexico is the world's 8th largest with 252,000 tonnes produced in 2009, and is mainly concentrated to the south central to southern regions of the country. The coffee is mainly arabica, which grows particularly well in the coastal region of Soconusco, Chiapas, near the border of Guatemala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Papua New Guinea</span>

Coffee production in Papua New Guinea is the country's second largest agricultural export, after oil palm, and employs approximately 2.5 million people. It accounts for approximately 1% of world production, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Uganda</span>

Coffee is Uganda's top-earning export crop. In 1989 Uganda's coffee production capacity exceeded its quota of 2.3 million bags, but export volumes were still diminished by economic and security problems, and large amounts of coffee beans were still being smuggled out of Uganda for sale in neighbouring countries. Uganda is one of the few countries in the world with indigenous coffee, with Robusta coffee growing wild around Lake Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Democratic Republic of the Congo</span> Coffee as an agricultural commodity in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Coffee production in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is centered in the Lake Kivu provinces. There are about 11,000 coffee farmers in the country who produce two main species of coffee, Robusta and Arabica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Thailand</span>

Thailand is one of the top 25 coffee producers in the world as of 2014, but its status as a coffee origin has not been widely known. Thailand traditionally produced mainly Robusta for industrial use, but the country has quickly become an exciting emerging origin for specialty Arabica and fine Robusta coffees. The origin is unique in that it exports very little coffee and most of the consumption remains in the country. There is a booming specialty coffee ecosystem where farmers, roasters, cafes and consumers symbiotically co-exist. It is often seen as an example of a working coffee ecosystem for an origin where coffee produced is sustainable from both economic and environmental perspectives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Tanzania</span>

Agriculture is the main part of Tanzania's economy. As of 2016, Tanzania had over 44 million hectares of arable land with only 33 percent of this amount in cultivation. Almost 70 percent of the rich population live in rural areas, and almost all of them are involved in the farming sector. Land is a vital asset in ensuring food security, and among the nine main food crops in Tanzania are maize, sorghum, millet, rice, wheat, beans, cassava, potatoes, and bananas. The agricultural industry makes a large contribution to the country's foreign exchange earnings, with more than US$1 billion in earnings from cash crop exports.

The chocolate industry in the Philippines developed after the introduction of the cocoa tree to Philippine agriculture. The growing of cacao or cocoa boasts a long history stretching from the colonial times. Originating from Mesoamerican forests, cacao was first introduced by the Spanish colonizers four centuries ago. Since then the Philippine cocoa industry has been the primary producer of cocoa beans in Southeast Asia. There are many areas of production of cacao in the Philippines, owing to soil and climate. The chocolate industry is currently on a small to medium scale.

Benguet coffee, also known as Benguet arabica, is a single-origin coffee varietal grown in the Cordillera highlands of the northern Philippines since the 19th century. It belongs to the species Coffea arabica, of the Typica variety. It is one of the main crops of farmers in the province of Benguet, which has a climate highly suitable for arabica cultivation. Benguet coffee is listed in the Ark of Taste international catalogue of endangered heritage foods by the Slow Food movement.

References

  1. Luxner, Larry (September–October 2001). "Cuba: A Once-Proud Coffee Industry Falls On Hard Times". Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. "Where Does Cuban Coffee Come From?". University of Florida Interactive Media Lab. Archived from the original on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  3. "Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Viser, Matt (18 December 2014). "Will Americans be able to taste Cuban-grown coffee?". Boston Globe. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Carroll, Rory (6 May 2011). "Hard times mean Cuban coffee tastes of peas again". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Wallengren, Maja (29 November 2014). "EXCLUSIVE: From Cuba With Love — How is Cuba's Coffee Industry Being Rebuild?". Spilling the beans. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  7. "Cuban Coffee". Hancock & Abberton. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  8. Craggs, Ryan (29 October 2012). "Hurricane Sandy Decimates Cuban Coffee Crop". Huffington Post . Reuters . Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  9. Matyas, Jo (27 October 2007). "The Dark Secret of Cuban Coffee". The Toronto Star . Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  10. "Cuba Enters Market for Organic Products". Granma . 23 May 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  11. "FAOSTAT". Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations Statistics Division. Note: Found by selecting the necessary filters. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Cuba's Food & Agriculture Situation Report" (PDF). Office of Global Analysis, FAS, USDA. March 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  13. "Cafecito & Colada". students.com.miami.edu. University of Miami School of Communication. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.

Further reading