Poor Farmer

CNBC August 14, 2013 The global coffee market has been rather decaffeinated for the past couple of years, with prices falling to less than half their 2011 peak and the bean becoming the worst-performing soft commodity last year. Yet there are some signs the market is recovering, following action from the Brazilian government last month. The long-term implications of Brazil's move to buy up coffee beans to keep prices reasonable for farmers are yet to emerge, but they have "definitely" had an impact in the short-term, according to Mauricio Galindo, head of operations at the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The price of Arabica coffee on the New York Futures exchange has started ticking up again. Coffee is historically a crop which sees prices go up one year and down the next, reflecting production in Latin America. This was supposed to be a year where production fell,but the harvest was better than usual. As the Brazilian real fell, the co...

If you need to avoid caffeine, is decaffeinated coffee a good choice? Mother Nature Network August 13, 2013 Coffee is the bitter dark cup of brew that keeps us in the Northwest going through the rainy season. We especially like to read the many studies affirming the positive impact of coffee on our health. However, it can be addictive because of the caffeine and some prefer to keep their caffeine intake low. Others, such as those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders, may need to avoid caffeine all together. Whether you are avoiding caffeine on doctor's orders or for personal reasons — if you love coffee, you may be wondering whether decaf is a good choice for you. The first and most important consideration is whether or not decaf coffee still contains caffeine. While there is some variance in coffee, decaffeinated coffee certainly does contain caffeine – just in lower amounts. One study found that while a single cup of coffee contains around 85 mil...

NCA ramps up efforts to clip impact of California Proposition 65 on U.S. coffee industry NCA Press Release August 8, 2013 New York, NY (August 8, 2013) - To enhance the National Coffee Association's vigorous Government Affairs efforts to nullify ill effects of California's Proposition 65 on U.S. coffee commerce, the Association has engaged Political Solutions LLC, a Sacramento-based Public Affairs firm. Bringing the added dimension of local presence and expertise, the firm expands the tools available to NCA as it deploys a comprehensive strategy to curtail the impact of Proposition 65. "California's Proposition 65 has created a toxic business environment for the coffee industry and other businesses, and NCA has been leading the charge to roll back its scope and impact," said Robert F. Nelson, NCA president &CEO. "Engaging Political Solutions adds highly specialized expertise as well as eyes, ears...

Government will buy up supply as bumper crop is expected   By Jeffrey T. Lewis and Alexandra The Wall Street Journal August 7, 2013 Brazil will buy arabica coffee beans to help prop up coffee growers' incomes as prices languish, President Dilma Rousseff said Wednesday. The purchases will be made through two programs. In one, the government will offer growers options contracts to sell as many as three million 60-kilogram (132-pound) bags of coffee at 343 reais ($149) per bag, the president said. The contracts will have a delivery date in March 2014, she said. In the other program, the government will buy coffee at a reference price of 307 reais per bag, starting immediately, Ms. Rousseff said, although she didn't give more details on that program. The agriculture ministry couldn't immediately provide more details, either. The prices are above the current 285 reais per bag that growers receive in Brazil. Global prices have also been much lower thi...