Brazil's 2016-17 coffee harvest is estimated to have reached 21 percent of the 56.4 million bag crop by June 1, slightly ahead of the 20 percent harvest rate a year ago, local analyst Safras e Mercado said on Thursday. Safras said the coffee harvest usually reaches an average 19 percent of the crop at this time of year.
It said 16 percent of the arabica crop, or 6.9 million 60-kg bags had been harvested by the start of the month, while 35 percent, or 4.75 million bags, of the smaller robusta crop had been brought in. Rains in southeast Brazil in recent weeks were slowing the progress of the harvest, especially in the key producing states of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Parana, according to Safras coffee specialist Gil Barabach.
He said the moisture was overall positive, with bean sizes likely to grow even larger, but expressed concerns over potential degradations in the harvests quality if rains persist. Abundant rains during the coffee harvest hurts the taste of the beans that need dry weather to cure properly. The beans often take on a bitter taste if cured during rainy periods.
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