Remy Rodriguez, 29 with a masters of agronomy (soil management) took over his grandfathers farm in 2016 that had been abandoned for a generation to start his own specialised coffee company.
The Slow Demise of Puerto Rican Coffee.
For 282 years Coffee has been produced in Puerto Rico. First introduced by the Spanish in 1736 during the colonial era and at the height of production it peaked at more than a million pounds which made it the seventh largest producer in the world. However with the disaster that hit the island on September 20th 2017 the coffee industry has been ground down to a standstill. 85% of the coffee on the isle was obliterated and affected thousands of families as a result.
Jan Carlos, 21 has a wife and young twins. “Many of my generation would rather claim off the government than do a days work!” he declares. This is a common feeling among many stating that the welfare system in Puerto Rico is paying as much or more than the $5.25 per hour for agricultural work. The island is seeing high rates of unemployment, 10.3%, in comparison to the USA's 4.1%. After working that morning in the heat and sun, he says that the $63 he earns a week isn’t enough and is looking for other farm work, the closest is a 45 minute drive away.
Remy Rodriguez, 29 took over his grandfathers farm in 2016 that had been abandoned for a generation to start his own specialised coffee company. Remy points out that there has been a sudden rise in younger generations looking at making specialised coffee taking the torch when it comes to coffee production on the island. “My parents had very little interest in farming” Remy cited. There was stigma attached to farming in the past. It was seen as a fools pursuit by rural Puerto Ricans looking at making it big in San Juan and the cities of the United States. Now there seems to be more Puerto Rican ex-patriots coming home to reawaken their grandparents plantations.
William has been working as a coffee picker for over 12 years and wants to retire but syas that the skills he has aquired over the years need to be passed to the next generation. Pickers are usually paid $5.25 per bushel (35.2 Liters) of coffee. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
Many farms on the island have been abandoned after hurricane Maria hit on September 20th 2017.
Traditional Puerto Rican ways of brewing coffee have not been lost. A year after Hurricane Maria many residents still suffer from power outages because of the poor infrastructure on the island.
Red Cross radio sits outside a Puerto Rican's house high up in the mountains. Gifted after the hurricane hit the island in 2017.
Jan Carlo and his family came back to the island after losing his job as a result of the hurricane. He says that the $63 he earns a week isn’t enough and is looking for other farm work, the closest is a 45 minute drive away. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
"William Camacho Farm" named after the owner, Frank Camacho's, father. The coffee bean procesing plant is build onto the side of the house. It hasen't been used this year due to the small harvest of coffee beans. It'll be 2019 at the earliest before it will see any use.
William has been working as a coffee picker for over 12 years and wants to retire but syas that the skills he has aquired over the years need to be passed to the next generation. Pickers are usually paid $5.25 per bushel (35.2 Liters) of coffee. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
The stars and stripes hang upside down (known to be a call of SOS) in one of the worst affected areas of hurricane Maria, Yabucoa.
Jan Carlo and his family came back to the island after losing his job as a result of the hurricane. He says that the $63 he earns a week isn’t enough and is looking for other farm work, the closest is a 45 minute drive away. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
Jan Carlo (Black shirt) and his family came back to the island after losing his job as a result of the hurricane. He says that the $63 he earns a week isn’t enough and is looking for other farm work, the closest is a 45 minute drive away. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
Roberto has picked coffee his whole life and works with his son in-law, Jan Carlos on Franks farm. Pickers are usually paid $5.25 per bushel (35.2 Liters) of coffee. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
Frank Camacho inspects his coffee processing plant. The harvest has finished four months early due to the small amount grown since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.
William works with Israel and has a varity of jobs. Picking coffee, oranges, banas or any other job that needs to be done. He has been at Sandra Farms for three years.
Remy Rodriguez, 29 with a masters of agronomy (soil management) took over his grandfathers farm in 2016 that had been abandoned for a generation to start his own specialised coffee company.
Frank Camacho inspects his coffee harvest. The harvest has finished four months early due to the small amount grown since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.
Israel Gonzalez cuts old and damaged branches away from the coffee plant in order for it to grow new branches resulting in better coffee beans.
William has been working as a coffee picker for over 12 years and wants to retire but syas that the skills he has aquired over the years need to be passed to the next generation. Pickers are usually paid $5.25 per bushel (35.2 Liters) of coffee. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
21 year old Jan Carlo and his family came back to the island after losing his job as a result of the hurricane. He says that the $63 he earns a week isn’t enough and is looking for other farm work, the closest is a 45 minute drive away. At Franks farm he pays $6.25 so as to keep the loyalty of his pickers and discourage them from working other farms.
Hessian bags are supplied by the government but Israel Gonzalez's coffee crop hasen't been large enough to make use of them.
William works with Israel and has a varity of jobs. Picking coffee, oranges, banas or any other job that needs to be done. He has been at Sandra Farms for three years.
Israel Gonzalez stands with his sorting and roasting equipment. However he hasen't been able to start the machinery up this year due to the low yeild as a result to hurricane Maria.
One of the new coffee plants that have been planted post-Maria. This variety is an Arabica variant that is much more "climate change" resistant. The Arabica bean which is more difficult to grow but the overall quality of the coffee is much better in comparison to other varieties and also has a long history of being grown on the island.
Remy Rodriguez, 29 with a masters of agronomy (soil management) took over his grandfathers farm in 2016 that had been abandoned for a generation to start his own specialised coffee company.
High in the hills of Yauco, Puerto Rico coffee is grown and harvested. 2018 has been a difficult year for many coffee farmers because of Hurricane Maria that destroyed the crops in September 2017.
One of the new coffee plants that have been planted post-Maria. This variety is an Arabica variant that is much more "climate change" resistant. Remy Rodriguez, 29 with a masters of agronomy (soil management) took over his grandfathers farm in 2016 that had been abandoned for a generation to start his own specialised coffee company.
The price of coffee in Puerto Rico is much higher than other coffee producing nations. Not least because of the overheads on the island and cost of employing farm workers.
Remy Rodriguez, 29 with a masters of agronomy (soil management) took over his grandfathers farm in 2016 that had been abandoned for a generation to start his own specialised coffee company.
Some of the coffee grown locally ends up in cafes on the island but due to the damage caused by Maria 85% of coffee is now imported.
Erica Reyes has opened a school for Baristas, "Escuela de Café y Baristas de Puerto Rico" eager to learn the art of coffee brewing.
Frank Camacho inspects his coffee harvest. The harvest has finished four months early due to the small amount grown since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.
Erica Reyes has opened a school for Baristas eager to learn the art of coffee brewing. Students are put through a test of aroma, taste and smell at the Escuela de Café y Baristas de Puerto Rico. The lights are turned down so the colour wouldn't be a part of the result of the test.
Erica Reyes, whose family has been brewing coffee for at least three generations, has opened a school for Baristas, "Escuela de Café y Baristas de Puerto Rico" eager to learn the art of coffee brewing.
