COSTA RICA
Robusta coffee remains the forbidden fruit in Costa Rica.
The National Coffee Congress for Costa Rica recently voted to continue a ban on robusta cultivation in order to maintain the nation’s reputation for producing the higher quality arabica coffee. Growers sought to end the ban, originally put in place in 1988, as arabica production continues to decline, according to reports.
More than half of the congress (Congreso Nacional Cafetalero) voted in favor of approving robusta but rules require two-thirds approval, officials said.