Guatemala was Central America's top producer of coffee for most of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, until being overtaken by Honduras in 2011.[1] Illegal exports to Honduras and Mexico are not reflected in official statistics.[2]
The most suitable temperature for the healthy growth and abundant production of coffee in Guatemala is that of 16 to 32 °C (60 to 90 °F). In lands situated at an altitude of 500–700 metres (1,600–2,300 ft) above sea level, young plants must be shaded.[3]
In zones averaging an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), the plantations must be sheltered from the cold north winds. For the most part, the coffee plantations are situated at an altitude varying from 500–5,000 metres (1,600–16,400 ft) above sea level.[3]
HistoryEdit
Indigenous workers on a coffee plantation, 1875.
The coffee industry began to develop in Guatemala in the 1850s and 1860s, initially mixing its cultivation with cochineal. Small plantations flourished in Amatitlán and Antigua areas in the southwest.[4] Initial growth though was slow due to lack of knowledge and technology. Many planters had to rely on loans and borrow from their families to finance their coffee estates (fincas) with coffee production in Guatemala increasingly owned by foreign companies who possessed the financial power to buy plantations and provide investment.[4]
A scarcity of laborers was the main obstacle to a rapid increase of coffee production in Guatemala. In 1887, the production was over 22,000,000 kg (48,500,000 lb). In 1891, it was over 24,000,000 kg (52,000,000 lb). From 1879 to 1883, Guatemala exported 133,027,289 kg (293,274,971 lb) pounds of coffee. By 1902 the most important coffee plantations were found on the southern coast.[3]
Many acres of land were suitable for this cultivation, and the varieties that were produced in the temperate regions were superior. Coffee was grown around Guatemala City, Chimaltenango, and Verapaz. The majority of the plantations were located in the departments of Guatemala, Amatitlan, Sacatepequez, Solola, Retalhuleu, Quezaltenango, San Marcos, and Alta Verapaz.[3]
AnacaféEdit
Coffee beans being sorted, Guatemala.
Anacafé (Asociación Nacional del Café) was established in 1960 as a national coffee association, representing all coffee producers in Guatemala.[5] It was initiated by the precursors to the International Coffee Organization, as a way of centralizing statistics of the nation's coffee production as it continued the work of La Oficina Central del Café, previously established and operated by the central government which in turn was established in 1928.
Anacafé has established a Guatemalan Coffees brand and defined eight coffee regions under the slogan "A Rainbow of Choices". The regions are: Acatenango Valley, Antigua Coffee, Traditional Atitlan, Rainforest Coban, Fraijanes Plateau, Highland Huehue, New Oriente, and Volcanic San Marcos.[6]
Anacafé has built the Analab coffee laboratories, established a program for children called Funcafé, and publishes El Cafetal, a coffee magazine. Anacafé represents Guatemala in the International Coffee Organization's meetings and receives income only from service charges on exported coffee items.[7]
^ abGuerrero, Jean (July 29, 2011). "A Prince of the Coffee Bean Honduras Becomes Central America's Top Producer, Helping to Fuel Its Economy". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
^Information Services on Latin America (Oakland, Calif.) (January 1986). ISLA. I.S.L.A. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
^ abcdPan American Union (1902). Coffee: extensive information and statistics (Public domain ed.). Govt. Print. Off. pp. 21–. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
^ abClarence-Smith, W. G.; Topik, Steven (2003). The global coffee economy in Africa, Asia and Latin America, 1500-1989. Cambridge University Press. p. 191. ISBN978-0-521-81851-3. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
Media related to Coffee plantations in Guatemala at Wikimedia Commons
October 19, 2023
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Coffee production in Guatemala began to develop in the 1850s Coffee is an important element of Guatemala s economy 1 The Las Merceditas coffee plantation San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta Guatemala Guatemala was Central America s top producer of coffee for most of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century until being overtaken by Honduras in 2011 1 Illegal exports to Honduras and Mexico are not reflected in official statistics 2 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Anacafe 4 Labor issues 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksGeography EditThe most suitable temperature for the healthy growth and abundant production of coffee in Guatemala is that of 16 to 32 C 60 to 90 F In lands situated at an altitude of 500 700 metres 1 600 2 300 ft above sea level young plants must be shaded 3 In zones averaging an altitude of 1 500 metres 4 900 ft the plantations must be sheltered from the cold north winds For the most part the coffee plantations are situated at an altitude varying from 500 5 000 metres 1 600 16 400 ft above sea level 3 History Edit nbsp Indigenous workers on a coffee plantation 1875 The coffee industry began to develop in Guatemala in the 1850s and 1860s initially mixing its cultivation with cochineal Small plantations flourished in Amatitlan and Antigua areas in the southwest 4 Initial growth though was slow due to lack of knowledge and technology Many planters had to rely on loans and borrow from their families to finance their coffee estates fincas with coffee production in Guatemala increasingly owned by foreign companies who possessed the financial power to buy plantations and provide investment 4 A scarcity of laborers was the main obstacle to a rapid increase of coffee production in Guatemala In 1887 the production was over 22 000 000 kg 48 500 000 lb In 1891 it was over 24 000 000 kg 52 000 000 lb From 1879 to 1883 Guatemala exported 133 027 289 kg 293 274 971 lb pounds of coffee By 1902 the most important coffee plantations were found on the southern coast 3 Many acres of land were suitable for this cultivation and the varieties that were produced in the temperate regions were superior Coffee was grown around Guatemala City Chimaltenango and Verapaz The majority of the plantations were located in the departments of Guatemala Amatitlan Sacatepequez Solola Retalhuleu Quezaltenango San Marcos and Alta Verapaz 3 Anacafe Edit nbsp Coffee beans being sorted Guatemala Anacafe Asociacion Nacional del Cafe was established in 1960 as a national coffee association representing all coffee producers in Guatemala 5 It was initiated by the precursors to the International Coffee Organization as a way of centralizing statistics of the nation s coffee production as it continued the work of La Oficina Central del Cafe previously established and operated by the central government which in turn was established in 1928 Anacafe has established a Guatemalan Coffees brand and defined eight coffee regions under the slogan A Rainbow of Choices The regions are Acatenango Valley Antigua Coffee Traditional Atitlan Rainforest Coban Fraijanes Plateau Highland Huehue New Oriente and Volcanic San Marcos 6 Anacafe has built the Analab coffee laboratories established a program for children called Funcafe and publishes El Cafetal a coffee magazine Anacafe represents Guatemala in the International Coffee Organization s meetings and receives income only from service charges on exported coffee items 7 Labor issues EditResearch has shown that some of Guatemala s coffee producers used child labor in 2013 according to the U S Department of Labor 8 9 See also EditList of countries by coffee productionReferences Edit a b Guerrero Jean July 29 2011 A Prince of the Coffee Bean Honduras Becomes Central America s Top Producer Helping to Fuel Its Economy The Wall Street Journal Retrieved 16 November 2011 Information Services on Latin America Oakland Calif January 1986 ISLA I S L A Retrieved 20 November 2011 a b c d Pan American Union 1902 Coffee extensive information and statistics Public domain ed Govt Print Off pp 21 Retrieved 16 November 2011 a b Clarence Smith W G Topik Steven 2003 The global coffee economy in Africa Asia and Latin America 1500 1989 Cambridge University Press p 191 ISBN 978 0 521 81851 3 Retrieved 20 November 2011 anacafe org and guatemalancoffees com guatemalancoffees com Archived from the original on 2014 10 02 Retrieved 2014 02 02 anacafe org Guatemala 2013 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Archived from the original on 2016 04 13 Retrieved 2015 03 14 Verite Research on Indicators of Forced Labor in the Supply Chain of Coffee in Guatemala Amherst 2012External links Edit nbsp Guatemala portal nbsp Coffee portal nbsp Media related to Coffee plantations in Guatemala at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coffee production in Guatemala amp oldid 1170392427, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
