The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) has now planted 78% of its coffee lands in disease-resistant stock, according to c.e.o. Roberto Vélez.
Production topped 14.2 million 60-kilo bags in 2017 with exports of 13.1 million bags and domestic consumption at 1.75 million bags. During his annual press briefing at the National Coffee Association’s convention, Vélez expressed pride in the fact that an average 81,000 hectares per year of coffee trees have been renewed, making Colombia’s coffee farms young again.
Productivity in bags per hectare has increased to 18.8 on average and the age of trees has fallen to 7.1 years. Currently, 86% of the nation’s trees are considered young growth.
The rate of infection by coffee rust has declined below 3.1% and coffee berry borer infestation was below 2%.
More of Colombia’s coffee exports are graded as specialty (43%) and processed (19%). Since 2000 the percentage of commercial grade coffee has declined from 88% to 38%.
In 2016 FNC launched a national quality competition to promote the finest of that country’s coffees for export. Eduardo Villota, who produces Cafe San Alberto coffee, was awarded the top prize in 2017. The coffee was later auctioned at $31 per pound, one of the highest prices paid for specialty grade Colombian arabica.
“Delivering this premium shows us that specialty coffee is undoubtedly of greater profitability to coffee farmers,” said Vélez.