26-Jan-2012 - A year for coffee

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There is something stylish about coffee, black of course. The activity that goes into its making – if done in a manner that is befitting traditionalists and purists – is equally magnificent, a careful, composed and cool affair if ever there was one. And then there's the final act, the finished piece: poured into a porcelain cup and saucer. It is art. Like tea, coffee has become, Reebok NFL jerseys in some ways, a staple drink, ubiquitous and accessible to people all over the world, rich and poor. We live our lives by it – the early morning wake-up, the pre-lunch appetiser, the rewarding brew after a long day's slog. It's a feature of many people's lives without them quite realising it. Demand for coffee endures, which is good news for Brazil, given that it is the largest producer of the crop it is derived from (it makes around a third of all coffee). Moreover, earlier this year, its Agriculture Ministry reported that the output of coffee in 2012 will rise to a record high, bucking the downward movement postulated in some farm commodity forecasts. Bloomberg reported that this year's production will increase spectacularly from 2011's 43.5 million bags to around 49 million to 52.3 million bags. Conab, the South American country's official crop agency, told the news agency that if this forecast comes true, it will beat 2002's record year of 48.5 bags. In the state of Minas Gerais, where a large part of coffee production occurs – estimates put it to about half of the total output – crops have benefitted hugely from the sudden wholesale nfl jerseys downpour of rain this month, particularly welcome after a dry period. The same has been experienced in the southern state of Espirito Santo. Coffee, like rice, beans and maize, is an important crop for its economy – the rainfall has helped enliven the farmers produce, who are counting their blessings. Another factor helping the coffee trade in what could be a vintage year is the fact that the trees in which the coffee comes from are entering what is described as a the prolific period of a two-year cycle. In addition to the increased productivity of coffee, Brazil is also predicting increased yields in 2012's soybean crop, even in light of a period of drought affecting some crops. The world's second largest producer of soybean has experienced an increased size of planted areas for soya, which coupled with coffee, could result in an extremely strong year of exports, which will further boost the country's economic prowess. With the demand for coffee showing no sign of dwindling, even in the face of tough economic conditions, Brazil is certain to benefit from this bumper year. Tags: Brazil, Features, Real Estate

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