Coffee Rust in Central America

A fungus is ravaging the coffee crop in Central America. Coffee Rust is especially deadly to Coffea Arabica, the plant that produces Arabica beans used in most high-end coffee.

Washington estimates that production could be down anywhere from 15 percent to 40 percent in coming years, and that those losses could mean as many as 500,000 people could lose their jobs. Though some countries have brought the fungus under control, many of the poorer coffee-producing countries in Latin America don’t see the rust problem getting better anytime soon.

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica have all been hard hit.

What’s this mean for us, the discerning coffee consumer? Higher prices at the pump, er, coffee shop, most likely.