A long dreamed railroad connecting the Atlantic coast of Brazil to the Pacific coast of Peru may finally become a reality. Meanwhile economic news is mixed in Peru. The dollar has remained relatively stable vs the Peruvian Sol lately, but it may just be a pause before the dollars rise again according to Charles Hugh Smith of the Of Two Minds Blog.
Continue reading Peru Economic News Mixed, A Railway from Atlantic to Pacific?
It’s May and in Peru it is the beginning of the coffee harvest season. Soon, we’ll be heading to Lima and from there to the eastern Andes & the rainforests of Chanchamayo. It’s exhilarating and exciting, yet fraught with uncertainties and that uncomfortable background feeling that one gets when faced with the unknown.
We’re still uncertain how many of the small communities of growers were affected by the massive flooding this year & how the coffee quality will be this year. (see Torrential Rains & Mudslides Continue to Plague Peru.)
Continue reading Real People, Really Good Coffee May 2015
Here’s an update on some recent articles that I’ve seen on farming & coffee production in Peru. This year Peru is slowly climbing back from the coffee rust which decimated production in 2012. Even last year, coffee production was still less than half of 2011.
The dollar has risen considerable vs the Peruvian Sol (currently S./ 3.14 to $1 USD.) Export prices are down, so there should be a good market, but with coffee prices low, it will be a hard year for many & difficult to cover costs.
In the farming country in the south of the country there have been clashes between police and protesters over a proposed copper mine, meanwhile the government is providing fertilizer and aid in other areas.
Peru News
Fresh Peruvian Asparagus & Blueberries will be exported to the US according to a recent article in El Comercio. Both countries are developing systems to mitigate the risk of pests such as the fruit fly and allow more a more open process for exports to the US.
Continue reading Peru News Roundup
One casualty of the skyrocketing costs of housing in Lima is migration from the provinces. For many years, there had been a steady flow from the outlying areas to Lima. A new study shows that the trend has reversed & other areas outside of the capitol are now more attractive to migrants looking for economic growth & opportunity.
Continue reading Migrating to Lima no longer attractive for many
A recent article in Peru This Week listed the top 6 museums in Peru. For those interested in ancient cultures and the unique history of Peru (and even chocolate) take note…
While at the SCAA trade show recently, we sampled some exquisite chocolate from Theo Chocolate. While reading and translating news from Peru, I came across an article that talks about Theo Chocolate & their award winning chocolate made with Peruvian cocoa.
This year they won two more awards – Best New Product & Peoples Choice. What’s even more interesting is what I found out about the company…
Continue reading US Chocolate Made with Peruvian Cocoa Wins Awards
We’ve been following the tragic flooding this year in Peru. The rainy season is nearly over, but for now the damage to property & the lives of affected residents continues. Here’s the latest news:
Continue reading Floods, Landslides Continue Affecting Peru
This past few days, we attended the “Event,” which is the Specialty Coffee of America Associations big trade show of the year. Thousands of coffee growers, importers, roasters & of course baristas and coffee aficionados joined together for a few days of great coffee, seminars, classes & coffee tastings. As they say, “Great coffee doesn’t just happen.”
Continue reading It’s Not Just for Breakfast Anymore, SCAA 2015 Specialty Coffee Event
While climate change hasn’t had an effect on many of the higher altitude banana growers in Peru, the torrential rains in other parts of the country have damaged many roads & flooded rivers, which can make transporting crops difficult.
Continue reading El Niño Phenomenon Won’t Affect Organic Banana Crops, Flooding in Iquitos
