Thursday, February 20, 2003


harrar crop endangered

the world depression in coffee prices, known to long-time readers as the "coffee crisis," combined with an unusually harsh drought poses serious dangers to one of the world's best varieties of coffee, the much-beloved ethiopian harrar.

this dry-processed coffee is famed for its sweet fruit tones, thin body, and wine-like brightness (also known as acidity) when properly roasted and brewed.

reuters reports that these carefully tended trees, some quite old, are dying from lack of water, and the near-bankrupt farmers have no income or reserves with which to buy water or otherwise save them.

". . .farmers are not only suffering from hunger, they are watching their precious coffee plants whither and die," according to reuters. "the harrar specialty grade has suffered more than most coffees in ethiopia's drought, with its output expected to fall by 40 percent in the 2002/3 crop year." the harrar that clings to life is of such poor quality it cannot be sold, which naturally worsens the situation.

the coffee farmers of ethiopia seem trapped in a dangerous spiral that could end in extreme hunger and perhaps serious damage to the prized heirloom harrar coffee. if you love harrar, buy your green beans now to roast at home or be prepared for a large price increase for possibly lower-quality beans. . .

posted by fortune | 4:54 PM | top | link to this | email this: | | | 0 comments