PH: 1800 000 162 A: UNIT C1, 53 HUNTLEY STREET, ALEXANDRIA NSW 2015 E: [email protected] W: WWW.ESPRESSOMECHANICS.COM.AUYOUR FIRST
CHOICE IN NATION
WIDE SERVICING
KNOWLEDGE LEADER
“El Salvador’s industry has
completely diminished, and we touched
rock bottom two years ago. We went
from producing around 4.7 million
[60-kilogram] bags in 1980 to 500,
bags last crop year,” he says.
“The government had so much control
over coffee, and agriculture in general.
For the last 40 years, it’s kept the control,but abandoned investment, aid, and
incentivisation in the industry.
“Then, in the early 2000s, coffee prices
went as low as 40 US cents per pound
on the stock exchange and 80 per cent of
producers went bankrupt.”
The nation was dealt another
blow when coffee leaf rust reached its
shores in 2012.
“Part of what makes El Salvador
coffee special is our unique varietals,
like Pacamara and Pacas, or the
traditional Bourbon and Typica. We
were so controlled and blocked by the
government in the 70s and 80s – the
years a lot of rust-resistant varieties were
spread around the world – that some of
us had never even planted a rust-resistant
variety,” Emilio says.
“Then, when a plague hits a country in
a bad situation, it completely kills it. Only
a few farms survived. But we’re still up
on our feet. We are the smallest country
in Latin America, but coffee on one side
of the country is completely different to
the other. We’re putting El Salvador out
there and making it work.”
Despite the challenges facing
El Salvador, Emilio is positive about thefuture of its coffee industry. He has formed
the Federación de Café de El Salvador, an
organisation uniting different players of the
country’s coffee sector to provide a single
voice for the industry.
“We’ve met with the new government
that recently came into power, as well as
corporations like the Agricultural Institute
of America and International Bank of
Aid, which all want to help invest in the
country,” Emilio says.
“There’s a good environment and
optimism. It won’t be the same as when
we were at our highest point, but we hope
to get back to 2.5 million or so bags per
year. This will be enough volume to
be competitive again.”
Looking ahead, Emilio expects the
coffee industry to face new hurdles but
believes farmers are up to the task.
“Throughout history, we’ve been able
to adapt and face challenges head on,”
Emilio says.
“Only 20 years ago, the gap between
the farmer and roaster was huge. Now,
there is so much more communication.
We are all in this together, and should
think as an industry, not as a single
part of a chain.”EmEmiEEmiEmEmiEmiEmEmiEEEEmiEmmEEEEmimilioliolioliolioiolioliolliolioiioLooLooLoLoLoLoLoLoLooLoLoLooLooooooooopezpezooppezpppezepepezezpezpezpezpeppezpezpezeppezezpppezpezpppezpeezzzDDDiDDDDDDDDDiDaz azaz a viv itvissviivisvisvivvvvisissiisititetteteetteeeedAdAdAdAAdAdAd Ad Ad Ad AAAustustustustustustustustustustustustustustustsu ralstrarararararalralraraalrallralrallia iaiaiaia iaia ia iaia a iia asaas s aaasas as as as aaaas sassss
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2012201202222220120201 9 K9K 9 9 Knownownowwldlddlddldlddldllddledledlledleddleddleddgegegegeg Ta lTa lTa lalkks kks ks ssseseseseseersseserseseerieiesiesiesiesie..PH: 1800000162 A:UNITC1, 53 HUNTLEYSTREET,ALEXANDRIANSW 2015 E:[email protected]:WWW.ESPRESSOMECHANICS.COM.AUYOUR FIRST
CHOICE IN NATION
WIDE SERVICING
KNOWLEDGE LEADER
“El Salvador’s industry has
completely diminished, and we touched
rock bottom two years ago. We went
from producing around 4.7 million
[60-kilogram] bags in 1980 to 500,
bags last crop year,” he says.
“The government had so much control
over coffee, and agriculture in general.
For the last 40 years, it’s kept the control,
but abandoned investment, aid, and
incentivisation in the industry.
“Then, in the early 2000s, coffee prices
went as low as 40 US cents per pound
on the stock exchange and 80 per cent of
producers went bankrupt.”
The nation was dealt another
blow when coffee leaf rust reached its
shores in 2012.
“Part of what makes El Salvador
coffee special is our unique varietals,
like Pacamara and Pacas, or the
traditional Bourbon and Typica. We
were so controlled and blocked by the
government in the 70s and 80s – the
years a lot of rust-resistant varieties were
spread around the world – that some of
us had never even planted a rust-resistant
variety,” Emilio says.
“Then, when a plague hits a country in
a bad situation, it completely kills it. Only
a few farms survived. But we’re still up
on our feet. We are the smallest country
in Latin America, but coffee on one side
of the country is completely different to
the other. We’re putting El Salvador out
there and making it work.”
Despite the challenges facing
El Salvador, Emilio is positive about thefuture of its coffee industry. He has formed
the Federación de Café de El Salvador, an
organisation uniting different players of the
country’s coffee sector to provide a single
voice for the industry.
“We’ve met with the new government
that recently came into power, as well as
corporations like the Agricultural Institute
of America and International Bank of
Aid, which all want to help invest in the
country,” Emilio says.
“There’s a good environment and
optimism. It won’t be the same as when
we were at our highest point, but we hope
to get back to 2.5 million or so bags per
year. This will be enough volume to
be competitive again.”
Looking ahead, Emilio expects the
coffee industry to face new hurdles but
believes farmers are up to the task.
“Throughout history, we’ve been able
to adapt and face challenges head on,”
Emilio says.
“Only 20 years ago, the gap between
the farmer and roaster was huge. Now,
there is so much more communication.
We are all in this together, and should
think as an industry, not as a single
part of a chain.”iazaazaz ii d Ad Ad AAA
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nnowowww alks rie.