KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii, U.S. – According to Federal statistics, Hawaii’s coffee season for the 2016-17 year looks promising statewide with a forecast increase in production, yield and value.
West Hawaii Today reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s preliminary season estimates show Hawaii is expected to have produced more than 36 million pounds of coffee cherry this past season. That is up nearly 2 million pounds from the previous 2015-16 season.
The USDA valued Hawaii’s crop during the most recent season at more than $62 million, with each pound of the cherry selling at $1.71. During the 2015-16 season, Hawaii’s crop was valued at only about $54 million.
Despite the predicted statewide growth, coffee farmers in Kona say they experienced a rough growing season due to dry weather.
