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Aromatics that conquer the world

Guatemala’s coffee is national heritage

High mountains and more than 300 micro-climates provide Guatemala with the most favorable conditions in the world to produce first-rate coffee that is internationally recognized for its excellent coffee cup profile.

The Guatemalan aromatic, grown up to 6,500 feet above sea level – 2,000 meters above sea level- has become a driver for development, since it fosters trade and jobs in the rural areas of the country. Seventy-nine percent of the coffee produced is strictly hard (SHB) and its manual picking allows the harvest to be selective, since they choose only the mature fruit, generating more than 500 thousand jobs.

Coffee is the main agricultural product for Guatemala, since it is sold in the most demanding specialty coffee markets on the planet.

One of the biggest advantages of the Guatemalan bean is that 98% is grown in shade, which generates a positive impact on biodiversity, the water resources – three million cubic meters of water per year, and the soils and fauna. It is estimated that 38 million shade trees and coffee trees create a forest that covers more than 305 thousand hectares in the rural areas of the country.

Of the Arabic varieties produced in Guatemala, Caturra, Cataui and Bourbon represent 78% of the total. There is also production of Robusta, Pacamara, Tipica and Pache, among others.

Coffee represents between 2.5% to 3.5% of the Gross Domestic Product, occupying second place of the total exports for agricultural products with 13%.

Guatemala is among the first ten leading countries in coffee exports. More than four million, 46kg sacks of exported beans during the 2016 harvest generated US$648 million in foreign currency.

Among the destinations, where the Guatemalan aromatic goes is North America, with 45% total (United States 32%, and Canada 13%); Europe, 27% (Belgium 8%, Italy and Germany with 5% each, and other countries 9%). Asia 24% (Japan 20%, South Korea 3% and Taiwan 1%). The rest of the world buys 4%.

The national coffee park covers 305 Aromatics that conquer the world Guatemalan coffee is sold in the most demanding markets around the world. 2 6 2 7 GUATEMALABEYONDEXPECTATIONS .com GUATEMALABEYONDEXPECTATIONS .com thousand hectares and the bean is produced in 204 of 340 municipalities in the country, where there are 125 thousand small, medium and large producers.

The National Coffee Association (Anacafé) represents all the producers in the country, so that they can market their product and bolster the development of coffee culture from a focus of sustainability based on three main axes: economic, social and environmental. In order to guarantee the prosperity of each actor in the chain and their families, improving their quality of life and conserving the natural resources for future generations.

The National Coffee Association (Anacafé) represents all the producers in the country, so that they can market their product and bolster the development of coffee culture from a focus of sustainability based on three main axes: economic, social and environmental. In order to guarantee the prosperity of each actor in the chain and their families, improving their quality of life and conserving the natural resources for future generations.