Increases in Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Prices Follows Devastation by Hurricanes Two Years in a Row

Parlin New Jersey, October 4, 2005 ­ Gourmet Coffee Retailer TastesOfTheWorld.net has secured a new supply of Jamaica Blue Mountain Gourmet coffee for 2005 holiday season. Jamaican coffee crops have been devastated by hurricanes for two years in a row and Jamaican wholesale coffee prices have increased thirty percent already.

Hurricane Ivan hit the island of Jamaica in September 2004 and damaged both crops and coffee industry infrastructure, followed by Hurricane Dennis in July of 2005, which damaged crops again and took out bridges between coffee crops and coffee production and roasting facilities. Retailers who have not already secured orders from the major Jamaican coffee producers are unlikely to get new orders until late 2006.

Hurricane Katrina missed Jamaica, but nearly wiped out New Orleans Port facilities, where much coffee is imported into the U.S. and warehoused before being roasted and distributed. The New Orleans port facilities are currently operating at 20% of capacity and coffee production there will have to move to other available facilities, likely to increase coffee prices. Weather has severely affected the coffee industry this year and prices are likely to rise noticeably on several varieties.

Jamaican coffee is recognized as one of the best coffee's in the world. They are grown and harvested with the highest standards of gourmet coffee production and guarantee the richest, most flavorful, low acidity coffee with a hint of sweetness and exquisite bold aroma.

Gourmet coffee retailers who carry the expensive Jamaica Blue Mountain coffees are prepared to increase prices to as much as $50 per pound to the U.S. consumer. Prices may rise even further next year due to high demand for the coveted premium gourmet coffee. TastesOfTheWorld.net received a shipment of Jamaican coffee before price increases and will keep their retail prices down until this shipment sells out.

The Japanese currently import 85% of all Blue Mountain coffee produced, according to the Jamaican government. Japanese prices sometimes approach $62 per pound and Jamaican Coffee is so highly prized there that it is sold for as much as $15 a cup to Japanese consumers. With demand so high from Japan, they may seek to secure more of the remaining limited and storm devastated Jamaica Blue Mountain blend and drive prices even higher for U.S. gourmet coffee consumers by reducing availability.

Jamaica Blue Mountain Gourmet coffee crops affected by severe weather in the Caribbean will force 2006 prices upward. Prices of Gourmet Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffees and the effects on the Jamaican coffee industry can be discussed in the Coffee Talk Forum at http://www.tastesoftheworld.net/talk/.

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