U.S. Coffeee Harvest Inches Up

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/08 - SNS -- Coffee production in Hawaii is estimated at 7.50 million pounds (parchment basis) for the 2007-08 season, up 1% from the previous season, according to the USDA final crop report for 2007.

Harvested area is estimated at 6,400 acres, up 2% from the 2006-07 season. Coffee production from Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai Counties is up from the previous season, which accounts for the overall increase in production for Hawaii. In Kona, the primary growing area on the island of Hawaii, coffee harvest for the 2007-08 season is down. Although bean quality was reported as good, erratic weather conditions, heavy pruning, insect infestation, and labor problems led to the smaller crop.

Puerto Rico coffee production for the 2007-08 season is estimated at 18.0 million pounds (parchment basis), unchanged from the previous season. Overall growing conditions for the 2007-08 coffee crop were reported as favorable. Heavy rains in October combined with high winds delayed harvest.

                 Coffee:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production
                        Hawaii and Puerto Rico, 2005-2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :    Area Harvested     :         Yield         :     Production 1/
  State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :2005-06:2006-07:2007-08:2005-06:2006-07:2007-08:2005-06:2006-07:2007-08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :-------- Acres -------   ------- Pounds ------  ---- 1,000 Pounds ----
        :
HI      : 6,100   6,300   6,400   1,340   1,170   1,170   8,200   7,400   7,500
        :
PR      :42,000  40,000  40,000     465     450     450  19,500  18,000  18,000
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1/  Parchment basis.