Coffee Farmers are in High Demand in Puerto Rico – CoffeeTalk

Iris Rodríguez reflects on her childhood, recalling the bed made of sacks her grandfather constructed for her during coffee harvests in Puerto Rico. Engaging deeply with farm life in Adjuntas, she returned to her family’s farm at age 50, only to confront challenges in the coffee sector, which include labor shortages and climate change. The coffee industry in Puerto Rico, established in the 18th century, has declined due to several factors, including a significant setback from Hurricane Maria in 2017, which devastated 80-85% of coffee plantations.

In response, Rodríguez co-founded Puerto Rico Coffee Producers Inc. (Procafé) alongside Pedro Pons and Eric Torres, aiming to enhance coffee production for the socio-economic development of farmers and communities. Procafé launched projects distributing coffee tree seedlings and resources to farmers in need, showing resilience during the crisis.

Additionally, Cafiesencia is another initiative committed to coffee farming’s future, focusing on ecological practices and engaging with rural communities under the Farm Technology and Restoration Project, which employs drones to analyze agricultural health.

Amidst these endeavors, new brands like Dos Caminos are emerging, driven by Juan Feliciano and Anthony “Tony” Cáceres, who aim to blend local narratives with the coffee culture by tapping into the emotional connection residents have with coffee. They have successfully held pop-up events to promote local coffee, emphasizing its cultural significance.

Rodríguez’s current initiatives focus on addressing labor shortages worsened by Hurricane Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic by bringing skilled workers from Central America. Collaborating with the Department of Agriculture and local municipalities, they aim to create housing solutions and navigate federal regulations to sustain the harvest. Rodríguez stresses the necessity of recognizing and valuing the contributions of Puerto Rican coffee farmers, advocating for their hard work and its benefits to the national economy.

Read More @ El Pais