Brazil

In 1727, Francisco de Mello Palheta went to French Guyana and brought back seeds of the coffee plant to Brazil.

At the end of the 19th century coffee exports represented 70% of Brazil's exports; by 2010 this share had dropped to only 3%.

Although Brazil produces 25% of the world's coffee, mostly Arabica, the vast majority of Brazilian coffee farms are less than 10 hectares in size. Most Brazilian coffee farming takes place in the departments of Sao Paolo, Minas, Gerais and Parana, all of which feature coffee-friendly altitudes, climates, soil and landscapes.

The Coffee Partnership has projects in the cities of Perdões, Cana Verde, Ribeirão Vermelho, and Santo Antônio do Amparo in the department (region) of Minas Gerais. Accomplishments to date include but are not limited to:

• Supported the formation of the new farmer organization AFASA (Associação dos Agricultores Familiares de Santo Antônio do Amparo).
• Supporting AFASA along with other partners in the construction of a new warehouse. This will help AFASA in storing their coffee under optimal conditions to ensure the delivery of quality product to their clients.
• Working with Junior Achievement in Brazil to implement their programs to over 600 students in schools in rural areas of Perdões, Santo Antonio do Amparo, and São Sebastião da Estrela.