KINGSTON, Jamaica – The fifth Anniversary of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day coincides with the 70th year when the first direct shipment of Jamaica’s world-renowned luxury coffee was made to Japan, still the largest export market for discriminating coffee lovers. This year’s rendition is celebrated today – Monday, January 9, 2023 – under the theme “Live the Luxury Lifestyle” and continue throughout the month of January 2023.
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day was first introduced by the All Japanese Importers of Jamaican Coffee (AJIJC) in Japan in 2018 under the theme “Jamaica Blue Mountain, the King of Coffees and the Winning Bean”.
That first shipment was executed by the late Keble Munn, founder of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory in March 1953.
Chairman of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA) and CEO and Managing Director of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, Norman Grant, notes that the celebration is taking place in collaboration with the industry’s 5,000 coffee farmers, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the AJIJC.
“The Japanese market now purchases 70% of our export, the USA – 20%, and Europe and the rest of the world – 10%. The Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association in partnership with JACRA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is currently focusing on marketing expansion simultaneously with an expansion in production which is aimed at increasing the production of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and Jamaica High Mountain coffee.
This is geared towards growing from the current 270,000 boxes to 450,000 boxes per annum over the next 4 years, through an investment of $1B in the coffee sector over the next 5 years”, Grant notes.
He adds that those efforts should help to increase revenues from Jamaica’s coffee industry from a weighted average of US$25M per annum, over the last 15 years, to US$50M per annum and an incremental 5% annual growth rate, over the next 10 years. “This will create an industry with annual sales of US$100M and will significantly create/return the coffee industry to consistent profitability and contribute to improving the economic prospects of our 5,000 farmers, thousands of farm families, and our coffee business”.
Grant explains that the capital investments will benefit both the Jamaica Blue Mountain and High Mountain coffee industry and by extension the country, “through both import substitution, job creation, and the development of the rural and national economies.”
This year’s celebrations will feature loyalty specials and discounts, the tasting experience at coffee outlets, both locally and internationally; the promotions of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee in local and overseas markets, including Japan, Europe, the USA, and China. There will also be the launch of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival at Devon House.
Also on the calendar of activities are the following:
- Jan.9, all day Distribution of Blue Luxury Box to Local Influencers
- Jan. 9, 9 am Coffee Tastings – Café Blue Constant Spring Road
- Jan.9, 10 am. Launch of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival at Devon House by Ministry of Tourism
- Jan.9, 3 pm Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Tastings – Jablum Coffee House 2 Oxford Road Kington
- Jan, 9 – All-day, Farms and Factory tours offered by JCEA members
- Jan. 9 – All day, Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day post on Social Media by influencers and members, partners, and coffee drinkers locally and globally.
- Jan. 11- Celebration of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day in China
- Jan. 17, Celebration of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day in Japan.
- TBA- Celebration of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee DAY in USA and Europe.
