Cuban Organic Coffee Goes to Japan & EU

Havana, Jun 1 (Prensa Latina) Cuba exported 120 tons of organic coffee in 2005, despite several years of severe drought, informed Pascual Caro, head of the ecological coffee and cacao project.

The head of the Ag Ministry´s Agricultura de Montana Company told Juventud Rebelde daily that Cuba has been supplying these markets since 2002 with productions exclusively grown in Imias, San Antonio del Sur and Yateras, in Guantanamo, southeastern Cuba.

Caro announced plans to expand the current over 11,000 acres worked by 1,500 producers to increase production, although to preserve quality, the expansion will be limited.

The agronomist from MINAGRI Coffee and Cacao Central Research Station highlighted the social benefits of organic coffee, as its elaborate production process generates new jobs.

He defined the project as environmentally friendly since it replaces toxic methods with biological to fight plagues and other diseases, helping preserve soils and keep waters clean.

The project also involves soil and plant health specialists and the National Farmers’ Association.

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