Coffee demand growing.

COFFEE DEMAND GROWING. Big clients such as Starbucks are placing increased value on coffee coming from Costa Rica, instead of only buying from such traditional producers as Colombia, Brazil and Kenya, according to producers and exporters here, reports UPI (July 23, 2004):

While Starbucks

buys approximately 400,000 sacks of beans a year from Costa Rica, the estimated production of coffee for 2003-2004 in that nation reached 2.2 million sacks, according to the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE). Carlos Lizano, of the export company Deli-Cafe, said that the rest of the coffee produced is distributed between dozens of other companies, including the U.S. firms Peets Coffee and Tea, and Royal Coffee;

The general manager of the Dota Coffee Producers Cooperative CoopeDota, Roberto Mata, said their coffee production is based on a successful cooperative model, which continues to bear fruit in spite of the uncertainties inherent in the process. "Our organization is made up of 750 producers, who own an average of 2 hectares (5 acres) of land each."