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USDA Releases Vietnam Coffee Semi-Annual Report
The USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has released its semi-annual report on the Vietnam coffee market. The report notes that rising commodity coffee prices have motivated farmers to increase investments in coffee farming, which is helping recovery from an early summer drought and reducing post-harvest losses. The report also outlines efforts among the country’s coffee leaders to capture more value from exports through capacity-building and quality. Vietnam remains the second-largest coffee producer in the world, behind Brazil.
Registration Opens for 2025 SCA Expo in Houston
Guest registration for the 2025 Specialty Coffee Expo, the largest annual coffee trade show in North America, is now open. The 2025 Expo is scheduled to take place April 25-27 in Houston. Early bird prices for 1-Day and 3-Day attendee badges are available until March 15, 2025.
Coffee Wilt Disease Associated with Gene Transfer from Another Fungus
According to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, the fungus that results in coffee wilt disease (CWD) was found to take in segments of DNA in a process known as horizontal gene transfer from another fungal pathogen, F. oxysporum. These transfers magnify the ability of CWD’s causative agent to repeatedly infect arabica and robusta coffee plants.
Coffee Prices Continue to Set Records
Despite volatility, coffee prices on the ICE arabica futures market (a.k.a. C price) continue to remain historically high. Prices shot up this week after trading company Volcafe reduced crop estimates in Brazil. Bloomberg had more.
La Colombe Baristas Fired After Ratifying Union Contracts
Nearly half the staff at La Colombe Coffee Roaster’s Chicago West Loop location were fired less than a month after baristas ratified a union contract, according to an Eater report. Affected workers claimed there were similar actions at four out of five La Colombe Chicago locations following contract ratifications.
ECOM Partners with Sourcemap’s AI Automation for EUDR Compliance
Coffee trading giant ECOM Agroindustrial Corp Ltd. is employing Sourcemap‘s AI supply chain regulatory software as part of the group’s EUDR compliance efforts.
Taco Bell Rolls Out Bellristas and Live Más Café Concept
Taco Bell has partnered with a longtime franchisee, Diversified Restaurant Group, to kick off a pilot beverage concept in San Diego called Live Más Café. According to a company announcement, the cafe will be staffed by “Bellristas.”
Long Miles’ 2024 Burundi Private Green Coffee Auction Delayed
Due to the significant exporting challenges Burundi has faced this season, Long Miles’ 3rd annual Private Collection Auction box sets ordered by roasters have experienced months-long delays. To accommodate the time required for the roasters to roast and cup the coffees, the auction date has been moved back, with bids opening on Dec. 17 and the 36-hour auction clock starting on Dec. 18.
Mac & Cheese Maven Making Coffee Move
The CEO and founder of I Heart Mac & Cheese, Steve Giordanella, is branching out into coffee this month with the launch of Pilar Coffee Bar and Iced Treats in Florida. This first location is at The Cove in Deerfield Beach, and the company is searching for franchise partners across the Southeast, according to a report from Fast Casual.
7Brew Hires First CMO, Nick Chavez
Arkansas-based 7 Brew, a growing quick-service drive-thru beverage chain, appointed Nick Chavez as its first CMO. Chavez brings over a decade of marketing experience from his roles at Yahoo!, Nintendo of America and, most recently, KFC.
New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com
- Import and Fulfillment Manager — Caravela Coffee
- Technical Account Rep South Central Region — La Marzocco
- Administrative Coordinator — Roast Magazine
- CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER (CRM) — Caravela Coffee
- Junior Coffee Trader — Falcon Coffees
- Sales Director — Melitta North America, Inc.
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
Column: The Shifting Seasons of Coffee Shipments
The idea that a particular crop — in our case, coffee — is available and fresh for a particular portion of the year is long-ingrained in the specialty food and beverage industries… read more
Sovda Bulks Up with Launch of the Precision Silo
Professional roastery equipment maker Sovda is launching the Precision Silo, a 4,800-kilogram-capacity green coffee storage, loading and blending machine… read more
Hardline Coffee Puts Its Foot Down with Northwest Iowa Flagship Cafe
Though permanence hasn’t come easy, Hardline Coffee has solidified its place in Sioux City, Iowa, with the opening of its new roastery and cafe… read more
New Investment Firm Sojourner Acquires Hawaii Coffee Company
A private investment firm led by the past chairman of Canada’s Kicking Horse Coffee made an undisclosed investment in Honolulu-based Hawaii Coffee Company, one of the largest coffee roasting and packaging companies in the state of Hawaii… read more
Does Drinking Coffee While Pregnant Cause ADHD? Our Study Shows There’s No Strong Link
International guidelines recommend people limit how much coffee they drink during pregnancy. Consuming caffeine – a stimulant – while pregnant has been linked to how the baby’s brain develops… read more
Major FAO Report Reveals ‘Hidden Costs’ of Coffee Production
As coffee prices currently sit at historically high levels on the commodities markets, driven by supply concerns and growing demand, the economic benefits for green coffee producers might seem universally promising… read more
Study: Coffee Greatly Reduces Risk of Co-Existing Cardio Diseases
New research shows that moderate coffee consumption may reduce risk of having two or more cardio or metabolic diseases at the same time… read more
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