The difficult financial year story continues; our financial situation is partly due to the overall economic situation world wide and partly due to a low yield year. So, why are our yields so low?
- Shade - shade is an important aspect in the taste profile of our coffee, but too much shade dramatically reduces the production. Last year we received a inconsistent review from MARENA (Nicaraguan Environmental Agency) where many of the shade trees were not properly pruned and production suffered.
- Pruning is also an important aspect of the actual coffee tree, and it is necessary due to many reasons including: limiting the numbers of branches, the height of the tree, and to help old trees grow young again.
- Old Coffee Trees - Coffee trees have a life expectancy of approximately 70 years, but their productivity diminishes after about 50. We have several very old plantations, over 60 years old; weĠre in the process of rejuvenating them with new coffees, but a coffee tree doesnĠt become productive until about 5 years old. In the meantime, we're loosing productivity.
