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.
For 282 years, coffee has been produced in Puerto Rico. First introduced by the Spanish in 1736 during the colonial era, the industry once reached its peak, with more than a million pounds produced annually, making Puerto Rico the seventh-largest coffee producer in the world. However, following the devastation of Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017, the coffee industry has come to a grinding halt. An estimated 85% of the island's coffee was destroyed, affecting thousands of families in the process.
Jan Carlos, 21, who has a wife and young twins, reflects on the state of his generation. “Many people my age would rather rely on government assistance than work a day in the fields!” he declares. This sentiment is echoed by many who note that the island's welfare system pays as much—if not more—than the $5.25 per hour typically offered for agricultural work. With unemployment at 10.3%, well above the U.S. national rate of 4.1%, many find it hard to sustain themselves through manual labor. After working under the blazing sun that morning, Jan Carlos points out that the $63 he earns a week isn’t enough, and he's now looking for other farm work. The closest available job is a 45-minute drive away.
Remy Rodriguez, 29, took over his grandfather’s farm in 2016, which had been abandoned for a generation, and started his own specialty coffee company. Remy observes a notable shift in attitudes toward coffee production among younger generations. “My parents had very little interest in farming,” he says. Historically, farming was seen as a fool’s pursuit by rural Puerto Ricans who aspired to make it big in San Juan or in U.S. cities. However, there has been a resurgence of interest in coffee cultivation, with many Puerto Rican expatriates returning to revive 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.
