Hurricane Melissa – The impact on Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee farms

All Safe

This has been a very nervous time for us. Our first thought was for everyone’s safety, and we were comforted that all our partners and workers were safe and well. My relationships with our partners go well beyond business, so this is very personal for us.

Yes there is damage

In speaking with our partners, their percentages vary between 30 and 50% of damaged crops. From my experience you can’t really tell the extent of the damage yet from the appearance of the berries, as many of the trees could have gone into shock. The berries could look ok now, but if the tree is in shock they will dry up and go black.

Most trees survived

The positive news is that although many crops were lost, most of the trees survived. We were all dreading the loss of trees through the landslides, as most of the trees grow on the treacherous steep slopes, which is why the coffee is so difficult to cultivate in the first place. Having to rely on new trees would have meant a 3-year setback.

Back to action

Arthur McGowan was one of the first of our partners with boots on the ground, within two days of the storm, out there on his farm and others hand picking as much coffee as possible to save it. Living in the middle of it all, he was able to get out there, with his tractor personally clearing the roads that remained around his farms and any others he could get to.

Community support

I love the sense of community we have here in the mountains, and everyone is banding together to get the farms and farmers back on their feet again. I fondly remember when we first started supporting Arthur with his aspirations to have his own farm. Even my old kindergarten buddy Johnny Bent, heard of our plans and personally donated.

Jamaican spirit

It’s this unwavering spirit and camaraderie that will get us through this. My relationship with our farms go back to my grandparents and beyond. My heart and roots are in Jamaica and with its people. We weather all storms together, our shared experience cultivating ever stronger bonds.

Onwards and upwards

The timing of this storm was particularly devastating, as we have been heavily focused this year on getting the word out to introduce these amazing people and their world class coffee to those who have yet to discover it. But we will do everything we can, to ensure that this is just a bump in the road, for the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Industry.

Edgar Munn

Founder & Owner

Blue Mountain Coffee Inc