It’s that time of year again…fresh crop Brazil is upon us!
Each year, Daterra shares a Field Report, bringing us up to date with news, quality and production on the farm.
This year, like many coffee producers across the globe, the challenges of climate change are being felt at Daterra. But, with a long-standing history in innovation and sustainable practices, the farm is in good stead to keep impact to a minimum.
The new Daterra crop ships in September and will be available from November in UK and EU warehouses. If you are a Daterra customer, a trade team member will be in touch to discuss your requirements.
Field Report
Climate change is creating challenges for coffee producers across the world. And things are no different at Daterra. Since August 2023, rainfall has been below average, while temperatures have been above average, creating soil hydric deficits. Regional temperatures are also 4°C higher than normal,
This affects not only Daterra and Cerrado but also other coffee-producing regions. Minas Gerais has faced record-breaking or above-average temperatures since November 2023. The higher temperatures accelerate cherry ripening, shortening the harvest period and increasing costs, logistics challenges, and quality issues. As a result, harvesting started early in some areas, with many producers reporting smaller screen sizes, potentially impacting yield.
In Cerrado, three main flowerings occurred during spring—in September, October, and November. These spaced-out flowerings significantly impact quality, causing non-uniform maturation and leading to uneven harvested lots. This situation presents additional challenges for coffee producers who strive to maintain high quality despite adverse conditions.
What is Daterra doing?
Daterra is always working hard to overcome challenges. Irrigation has been a key focus for many years, with a big project planned until 2030 to equip the entire farm. Right now, being able to irrigate 70% of the farm has helped reduce the impact of the weather.
Daterra is also creating a platform to “produce water” by restoring springs, planting trees, and regenerating Cerrado through the Tree_llion Project. They’re investing in water management and storage by building dams and creating large water storage sites. These “Water Farms” and “CO2 Farms” will help ensure future coffee production.
How does this affect coffee?
So far, Daterra has harvested 21% of the crop, and screen development looks good. There’s a slight increase in 15-screen coffees in faster-maturing areas, but volumes of 16/18 screens remain normal. This minor increase in small screens won’t affect the estimated production. Daterra plans to use these 15-screen beans in offerings like “Full Bloom” and “Petit Full Bloom,” with consistent flavor profiles thanks to the Daterra Penta Process, electronic sorters, and custom-made density tables.
For maturation non-uniformity, Daterra uses Selective Mechanical Harvesting. The team analyzes maturation in small farm sectors and performs multiple tastings to ensure the coffee is ripe. Harvesting machines are adjusted to strip only the juiciest cherries, leaving underripe ones on the branches for later collection. This method incurs higher costs but ensures quality. Additionally, the Smart Coffee Processing Unit can separate cherries into eight maturation levels, ensuring any underripe cherries are sorted out.
Click the link below to learn more about Daterra’s system for selective sorting.
