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Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), in collaboration with the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, organized a Coffee Tasting and Presentation event to mark the sixth anniversary of Jamaica […]
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JAMPRO Observes Blue Mountain Coffee Day
January 22, 2024
Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), in collaboration with the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, organized a Coffee Tasting and Presentation event to mark the sixth anniversary of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day. The celebration took place at Cafe Blue and coincided with the 70th anniversary of the first direct shipment of Jamaica’s renowned luxury coffee to Japan.
Every January 9th is dedicated to observing Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day, honoring the historic first shipment of coffee beans to Japan in 1953. Japan continues to be the largest buyer, accounting for approximately 70% of exports.
The festivities align with the seventh staging of the JBMC Festival, held on January 9th in Kingston, dedicated to promoting Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and its producers.
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency, Yasuhiro Atsumi and President of JAMPRO, Shullette Cox all participated in coffee tasting and a Barista Latte Art Showcase at Cafe Blue.
Senator Hill expressed enthusiasm for the celebrations, highlighting that “80 per cent of Jamaica’s coffee, grown by ordinary coffee farmers, had the best coffee exporting year in 2022.” He noted, “We exported about $24 million, which is the highest in the last three or four years… so I’m happy to see where the industry is going.”
For his part, Ambassador Atsumi expressed support saying, “As Ambassador I am very happy to be associated with this day and I hope the industry will grow significantly to export more, not just to Japan but to other countries as well.”
Currently, there are over eight agro-processors exporting coffee to Japan, Europe and the United States of America. JAMPRO remains committed to supporting industry stakeholders such as local farmers to extend their reach beyond Jamaica’s borders.
President Cox highlighted the initiation of a comprehensive market study under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The study aims to determine international trends, identify challenges associated with exports, and make recommendations for viable, sustainable production, ensuring profitability along the value chain.
President Cox emphasized, “The primary objectives are to ascertain international trends to determine the best overseas markets, identify the challenges associated with exports as well as make recommendations to mitigate some of the challenges outlined to make production viable and sustainable and to guarantee some profitability for all the players along the value chain.”