Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA) Chairman, Dr Norman W Grant, is calling for coordinated efforts to rebuild the country’s coffee industry, emphasising the need for climate resilience.

 In his message for Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day 2026, to be celebrated on Friday, January 9, Dr Grant highlighted the industry’s challenges, including extreme rainfall, climate disruptions, and Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact, collectively resulting in estimated losses of J$2.5 billion over four years. 

The JCEA is advocating for urgent recovery measures, including implementing the Coffee Crop Resuscitation and Establishment Programme (CREP), improving farm roads, and providing targeted assistance to farmers. Dr Grant welcomed the government’s intervention and commitment to support the industry, including a $120 million allocation for recovery efforts, of which $35 million has already been disbursed.

“Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is a national treasure, a source of rural employment, and a symbol of Jamaica’s excellence on the world stage,” Dr Grant said. He emphasised the need for sustained support to ensure the industry’s future, including addressing mental health and psychosocial support for farmers arising from the trauma of Hurricane Melissa. He thanked the Minister of Agriculture for his quick response to the plight of the coffee farmers, their families and the wider industry.

“On behalf of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, I salute all stakeholders, farmers, processors, exporters, partners, and coffee lovers at home and abroad as we observe our 8th Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day 2026, under the theme: Rebuilding a Climate Resilient Coffee Industry.

“This day is both a celebration and a moment of reflection. Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee remains one of our nation’s most treasured agricultural assets -internationally recognised for its exceptional quality, authenticity, and heritage. It represents not only excellence in flavour, but the skill, dedication, and perseverance of over 5,000 Jamaican coffee farmers and industry workers who sustain this legacy.

“However, over the past four years, our coffee industry—both Blue Mountain and non-Blue Mountain—has faced unprecedented challenges. Consecutive periods of extreme rainfall and climate-related disruptions have severely reduced yields of production and increased losses. 

Most recently, Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, dealt a devastating blow to the sector, destroying an estimated 100,000 boxes of coffee during the 2025/2026 crop year and causing farm-gate losses of approximately J$1 billion. Preliminary assessments indicated that 40 per cent of the mature crop ready for harvest was lost, alongside extensive damage to coffee trees, farms, roads, and processing access routes,” Grant said.

However, he noted that despite these hardships, Jamaica’s coffee industry continues to contribute meaningfully to the national economy, maintaining its position in the global market and exporting millions of dollars’ worth of premium coffee annually. 

“This resilience speaks volumes—but resilience alone is not enough. What is required now is coordinated, sustained support and effort to rebuild a climate resilient coffee industry,” Dr. Grant stated in his message noting that the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association continues to advocate for urgent recovery measures, including the implementation of the Coffee Crop Resuscitation and Establishment Programme (CREP), improved farm road rehabilitation, and targeted assistance to help farmers return to production.