Peace Comes to the Coffee Growing Regions of Colombia

On November 30, 2016 both house of congress in Colombia ratified a peace agreement between the government and FARC-EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army). The half century long Colombian Civil War was over. During the war more than 200,000 people died, most of whom were civilians. And more than 5 million people were displaced from their homes. Many of those people were farmers in the coffee growing region of Colombia, the Eje Cafetero. Today many coffee farmers are coming home as peace comes to the coffee growing regions of Colombia.

Peace, More Farmers and More Arabica Coffee

U.S. News writes about peace will affect Colombian coffee production.

Farmers who fled war in the Colombian Andes are returning to revive their abandoned land, cultivating coffee trees that are boosting global supplies of the highest-quality beans.

Colombia’s five-decade civil war, the longest in the Americas, displaced millions and disrupted farming for decades in areas that produce coffee for the most exacting consumer.

The revival of coffee farming in the former conflict zones could help boost Colombia’s coffee output by 40 percent, according to government estimates. That would raise global supplies of mild Arabica beans by about 13 percent.

The additional supply could reduce the cost of the raw material for the world’s top roasters, many of whom are seeking to secure increased supply from Colombia.

Colombia is the world’s third leading coffee producer. However, second place Vietnam is primarily a Robusta producer. Brazil out produces Colombia in coffee volume but Colombian coffee centered around Manizales is generally considered the best Arabica in the world.

Some of the best coffee in the world comes from a place where the highway signs give you a choice of heading to Bogota or Medellin.

Manizales, Colombia Highway Signs

This piece of coffee heaven is Manizales, Colombia. The main highway to neighboring Pereira is even called the coffee highway, the Careterra de Café. Coffee grows everywhere from lowlands to mountain tops. Coffee loves cloudy skies, rain and moderate temperatures making the daytime highs of 70 degrees and nighttime lows of 58 degrees perfect.

Along the Coffee Highway

Along the Coffee Highway

Manizales was founded in the mid-19th century by 14 families who moved into this mountainous region specifically to grow coffee. They are now known as the founders or Fundadores. The local upscale mall is the Fundadores and a large local grocery store is La 14 in reference to the founders. Coffee culture is everywhere and Manizales is the home of the Colombian Coffee Growers Association.

Now that hostilities have ceased there are coffee farmers moving back into the mountains throughout the Colombian coffee growing district and their main focus is high quality Arabica coffee. It takes a few years from planting to having a coffee crop but in a few years Colombian coffee production is expected to go up by nearly half again and that will raise worldwide Arabica production by a seventh.

If you are interested in unique and high quality green bean or roasted Colombian coffees shipped directly from the source contact us at BuyOrganicCoffee.org.




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