Coffee production in Venezuela: Difference between revisions

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While Venezuelan politicians sought unsuccessfully to entice European farmers to the coffee frontier, Andean peasants and others from Colombia spontaneously colonized extensive areas of the mid-slopes suitable for coffee production.

[[Juan Vicente Gómez]], who ruled the country with an iron grip for 27 years (from 1908 to 1935), beneficially utilized the revenue generated by coffee and petroleum for development activities of the country.~~{{Sfn|Denova|2005|p=83}}~~ In 1919, coffee and cacao constituted 75 percent of the country's exports, the principal market being the U.S.

[[Juan Vicente Gómez]], who ruled the country with an iron grip for 27 years (from 1908 to 1935), beneficially utilized the revenue generated by coffee and petroleum for development activities of the country. In 1919, coffee and cacao constituted 75 percent of the country's exports, the principal market being the U.S.

In 2003, the Government of Venezuela introduced policy regulations (fixing procurement price limits) on growing coffee which restricted the production of coffee in the country. Consequently, the imports (to the extent of 50% of local production) become imperative to meet the growing domestic demand. Imports are mostly from Brazil and [[Nicaragua]]. It is the contention of the coffee growers that it is no more economical to grow coffee under the present regulations though the government attributes this shortage as due to illegal hoarding by the growers for profit. According to a Coffee growers report, the cost of producing one quintal of top quality coffee was US$335 while its sale price is only US$173 (capped by the government). All these changes have resulted in Venezuela losing its position as one of the world's largest coffee exporters. The future of these changes is unknown in the wake of the death of [[President of Venezuela]], [[Hugo Chávez]], who introduced the policy changes in 2003.

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Coffee trees can be harvested within four years after planting. Each tree lives for about 50 years. While two pickings occur annually (October and November; December, January, and part of February) the latter one provides the larger harvest of the two. However, the picking season does vary by elevation and local conditions such that trees at elevations greater than {{convert|3000|ft}} are harvested later than those in lower elevations.

Coffee production peaked to 1 million bags per year before 1914, and after local consumption much of its exports were second only to Brazil. In the Andean frontier region coffee production had increased ten times (between 1830 and 1930) making it the second largest coffee producing nation in the world. More than 82,000 tonnes of coffee were produced in 1919; however, poor agricultural practices, soil erosion, less incidence of rainfall and over use of soil strength caused a drastic decline in the yield, in the 1920s, which resulted in the decline of the coffee industry in the country; petroleum extraction compounded its downfall.~~{{Sfn|MacNeill|2004|p=1279}}~~ Typically, coffee production is at its greatest during the months December and January, and shipping of Venezuelan coffee takes place between October and May. Coffee grown in Venezuela is largely consumed by locals and the rest is sold mainly to the [[United States]], [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]].

Coffee production peaked to 1 million bags per year before 1914, and after local consumption much of its exports were second only to Brazil. In the Andean frontier region coffee production had increased ten times (between 1830 and 1930) making it the second largest coffee producing nation in the world. More than 82,000 tonnes of coffee were produced in 1919; however, poor agricultural practices, soil erosion, less incidence of rainfall and over use of soil strength caused a drastic decline in the yield, in the 1920s, which resulted in the decline of the coffee industry in the country; petroleum extraction compounded its downfall. Typically, coffee production is at its greatest during the months December and January, and shipping of Venezuelan coffee takes place between October and May. Coffee grown in Venezuela is largely consumed by locals and the rest is sold mainly to the [[United States]], [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]].

Today Venezuela produces less than one percent of the world's coffee, and most of it is drunk by the Venezuelans themselves. However, some interesting Venezuela coffees are again entering the North American specialty market. The best-known Maracaibo coffees, in addition to Cúcuta, are Mérida, Trujillo, and Táchira. Mérida typically displays fair to good body and an unemphatic but sweetly pleasant flavor with hints of richness. Táchira and Cúcuta resemble Colombias, with rich acidity, medium body, and occasional fruitiness.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 While Venezuelan politicians sought unsuccessfully to entice European farmers to the coffee frontier, Andean peasants and others from Colombia spontaneously colonized extensive areas of the mid-slopes suitable for coffee production.
-[[Juan Vicente Gómez]], who ruled the country with an iron grip for 27 years (from 1908 to 1935), beneficially utilized the revenue generated by coffee and petroleum for development activities of the country.{{Sfn|Denova|2005|p=83}} In 1919, coffee and cacao constituted 75 percent of the country's exports, the principal market being the U.S.
+[[Juan Vicente Gómez]], who ruled the country with an iron grip for 27 years (from 1908 to 1935), beneficially utilized the revenue generated by coffee and petroleum for development activities of the country. In 1919, coffee and cacao constituted 75 percent of the country's exports, the principal market being the U.S.
 In 2003, the Government of Venezuela introduced policy regulations (fixing procurement price limits) on growing coffee which restricted the production of coffee in the country. Consequently, the imports (to the extent of 50% of local production) become imperative to meet the growing domestic demand.  Imports are mostly from Brazil and [[Nicaragua]]. It is the contention of the coffee growers that it is no more economical to grow coffee under the present regulations though the government attributes this shortage as due to illegal hoarding by the growers for profit. According to a Coffee growers report, the cost of producing one quintal of top quality coffee was US$335 while its sale price is only US$173 (capped by the government). All these changes have resulted in Venezuela losing its position as one of the world's largest coffee exporters. The future of these changes is unknown in the wake of the death of [[President of Venezuela]], [[Hugo Chávez]], who introduced the policy changes in 2003.
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 Coffee trees can be harvested within four years after planting. Each tree lives for about 50 years. While two pickings occur annually (October and November; December, January, and part of February) the latter one provides the larger harvest of the two. However, the picking season does vary by elevation and local conditions such that trees at elevations greater than {{convert|3000|ft}} are harvested later than those in lower elevations.
-Coffee production peaked to 1 million bags per year before 1914, and after local consumption much of its exports were second only to Brazil. In the Andean frontier region coffee production had increased ten times (between 1830 and 1930) making it the second largest coffee producing nation in the world. More than 82,000 tonnes of coffee were produced in 1919; however, poor agricultural practices, soil erosion, less incidence of rainfall and over use of soil strength caused a drastic decline in the yield, in the 1920s, which resulted in the decline of the coffee industry in the country; petroleum extraction compounded its downfall.{{Sfn|MacNeill|2004|p=1279}} Typically, coffee production is at its greatest during the months December and January, and shipping of Venezuelan coffee takes place between October and May. Coffee grown in Venezuela is largely consumed by locals and the rest is sold mainly to the [[United States]], [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]].
+Coffee production peaked to 1 million bags per year before 1914, and after local consumption much of its exports were second only to Brazil. In the Andean frontier region coffee production had increased ten times (between 1830 and 1930) making it the second largest coffee producing nation in the world. More than 82,000 tonnes of coffee were produced in 1919; however, poor agricultural practices, soil erosion, less incidence of rainfall and over use of soil strength caused a drastic decline in the yield, in the 1920s, which resulted in the decline of the coffee industry in the country; petroleum extraction compounded its downfall. Typically, coffee production is at its greatest during the months December and January, and shipping of Venezuelan coffee takes place between October and May. Coffee grown in Venezuela is largely consumed by locals and the rest is sold mainly to the [[United States]], [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]].
 Today Venezuela produces less than one percent of the world's coffee, and most of it is drunk by the Venezuelans themselves. However, some interesting Venezuela coffees are again entering the North American specialty market. The best-known Maracaibo coffees, in addition to Cúcuta, are Mérida, Trujillo, and Táchira. Mérida typically displays fair to good body and an unemphatic but sweetly pleasant flavor with hints of richness. Táchira and Cúcuta resemble Colombias, with rich acidity, medium body, and occasional fruitiness.