Final Stretch: Coffee Harvest Wrap-Up in Northern Peru

As the 2025 coffee harvest season nears its close in Cajamarca, we are pleased to share insights and highlights from the field. Despite the volatility of the C-market and logistical hurdles, the season has been largely positive in terms of volume, physical quality, and producer engagement. Here’s what we’ve observed.

1. General Outlook: A Strong Finish to the Harvest

The harvest in Cajamarca is currently 85 percent complete and entering its final stage. In general, this has been a favorable season for cooperatives in the region, with improved yields and better physical quality than last year.A key contributor has been strong pest prevention practices, including regular plot maintenance and artisanal coffee-scented traps. Though the season began with intense summer conditions and heavy rainfall, these ultimately helped suppress pests and improve plant health.However, speculative behavior affected the pace of deliveries: many producers delayed handing over their coffee in hopes of higher prices.

2. Results vs Expectations

In terms of volume and physical quality, the harvest met expectations. However, cup scores were more moderate. With the commercial market offering relatively attractive prices, some producers focused on volume rather than fine-tuning their post-harvest techniques.Market volatility and liquidity challenges were two unexpected hurdles that shaped the season. While high-altitude zones benefited from ideal climate conditions, lower elevations faced stress from prolonged heat.

3. Quality Highlights and Processing

This season brought notable cup profiles from Cajamarca, Cusco, and Amazonas. Geisha and Maragogipe lots reached scores of 87–88 points. Most certified Grade 1 coffees landed in the 82+ range.Organizations also strengthened their technical teams and offered coordinated farm visits, which helped expand their training reach and deepen post-harvest support. Organic composting practices have gained momentum, offering long-term benefits for microlot development.Standout high-altitude regions include La Coipa, La Laguna, Las Pirias, Chontali, San Felipe, and Sallique.

4. Producer Experience and Coop Resilience

For most producers, especially in mid and high-altitude areas, the season was smooth and rewarding. In lower zones, the hot summer created stress on crops and yields.

Producers appreciated the improved market prices and decent volumes, although international price fluctuations created ongoing uncertainty. Labor shortages and wage inflation remained major concerns throughout the season.

Cooperatives, for their part, experienced pressure from both price speculation and increasingly complex export logistics, including:

• Limited container availability

• Shipping line rollovers

• Stricter compliance and traceability demands (EUDR and others)

5. Technical and Financial Support in Action

This year, access to technical and financial support made a measurable difference. Technical assistance helped ensure quality standards were met, while timely financing enabled coops to purchase coffee without delay. This helped them meet export commitments and maintain buyer confidence.

6. Export Readiness and Logistics

Cooperatives are now in the final stages of dry milling, with most shipments scheduled between October and December 2025.

Most certified lots are already committed, and remaining availability is very limited.

Buyers should be aware of key logistical factors:

• Between October and November, shipping lines prioritize reefer (cold-chain) containers for fresh produce exports. This often reduces access to dry containers and leads to shipment delays.

• National transport strikes are also affecting port access and road movement in key zones such as Cusco, Cajamarca, Lima, and Paita, causing delays and potential port storage fees.

  
  

 7. Key Takeaways and Looking Ahead

This season underscored the importance of risk management, timing, and financial resilience.

Looking ahead, cooperatives are preparing by:

• Developing annual farm renovation and pruning plans

• Strengthening their fertilizer production and post-harvest infrastructure

• Enhancing technical support across their networks

• Exploring diversification strategies such as passionfruit, cacao, small livestock (guinea pigs and cattle)

  
  

At Café Selva Norte, machinery maintenance is scheduled for March 2026 to ensure smooth operations for the next harvest cycle.

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