Puerto Rico’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) has revised the minimum price structure for coffee, while the Department of Agriculture addresses obligations accumulated last fiscal year in the Coffee Purchase and Sale Program, which was hurt by rising international grain costs. Order No. 2026-007, taking effect November 13, sets a new price structure for locally produced coffee and for imported coffee that Agriculture buys and sells to roasters through the Agricultural Enterprises Development Administration (ADEA).
DACO’s Coffee Evaluation Committee analyzed production costs and industry conditions and submitted recommendations, along with input from Agriculture. Representatives of farmers, processors, roasters and economic specialists took part. Agriculture Secretary Irving Rodríguez Torres said: "This is not a determination made unilaterally. Farmers, processors, roasters and specialists were represented in the evaluation process."
The price structure for 100% locally produced coffee had not undergone a comprehensive review in years. According to Agriculture, the minimum reference price for farmers had gone about 15 years without an update reflecting accumulated production-cost increases, including labor, fertilizer, equipment and other inputs. In September, Productores de Café de Puerto Rico (Procafé) had demanded a revision of the minimum price for ripe coffee cherry, saying current production costs exceeded the existing price.
For imported coffee, the last substantive revision was in January 2023. Since then, Agriculture kept a sales structure for roasters while the cost of buying the product on international markets kept rising. That gap has directly affected the finances of the Coffee Purchase and Sale Program.