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Heavy Rain Hammering Coffee Crops

Price climbs amid continued bad weather in Central America

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 20, 2011 5:37 PM CDT

(Newser) – As Central America is battered by downpours, the weather is taking a heavy toll on the region’s coffee growers. With the harvest about to begin, wind is knocking leaves off coffee trees, leaving unripe berries unprotected. Ripe berries are ruined by landing on soaking ground. Soon, your morning cup may cost more, the Wall Street Journal reports: Coffee futures have jumped 5.7% following a nine-month low this month.

Yesterday, the commodity reached $2.36 per pound on one exchange. Prices are "headed back to the $2.70 area," an analyst says. With arabica coffee supplies down 60% since 2009 in exchange-certified warehouses, farmers had hoped for a good year. Instead, both supplies and coffee transportation have been hurt by the rains. “When it rains like this, we can't cut,” says one farmer. Click to read about the climate concerns of Starbucks.

This year's coffee crop is at risk thanks to heavy rain. (Shutterstock)

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Heavy Rain Hammering Coffee Crops

Price climbs amid continued bad weather in Central America

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