Ecuador

Drop in Production and Redemption

However, in the 1980s, due to low international prices for coffee, production slumped as producers veered towards other more profitable crops. Fields of coffee trees went unharvested due to high labor costs, and whilst processed coffee beans sat in containers, unable to be shipped.  The country dedicated few resources and support to the coffee industry because a significant portion of Ecuador’s exports were based off of petroleum rather than agricultural products. Strangely, the country imports more coffee than it exports due to the high demand of the instant coffee industry in Ecuador.

Once the specialty demands increased in the neighboring countries of Colombia and Peru – producers in Ecuador grew interested and discovered ways to begin producing higher quality coffees. Selective harvesting and improved processing significantly improved the quality of the coffee in Ecuador and placed them on the specialty map of the world.

The Cup of Excellence competition finally hit Ecuador in 2021 and helped shine light on the hard work of coffee producers throughout the country. Producers are beginning to seek ways to continue improving yields and quality to maintain production in the delicate and changing climates.