The Huntley College of Agriculture is hosting the Inaugural California Coffee Summit on Thursday, January 18 at the AgriScapes Conference Center at Cal Poly Pomona. Domestic coffee production has typically only been done in Hawaii, but California farmers have recently begun to take interest planting coffee and producing beans at a premium price point.
Those interested in growing, processing or marketing specialty coffee will learn about new opportunities for commercially grown coffee in California, which is currently retailing for roughly $18 per cup. Industry leaders from Santa Barbara and San Diego counties, where much of California coffee is grown, will be discussing coffee production and processing methods.
Other agriculture professionals with the University of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be giving presentations on topics such as the development of estate coffee, along with pest and disease management. UC Cooperative Extension advisors Ramiro Lobo, Gary Bender, and Duncan McKee will also be discussing which varieties are best suited for production in California, based on their research trials.
There are currently about 30,000 coffee trees planted on approximately 30 farms from Morro Bay to San Diego, with acreage forecasted to increase in 2018. While only a small percentage of that acreage is currently producing, demand continues to build for specialty coffee grown in California.
Registration is open for the Inaugural California Coffee Summit and includes a continental breakfast, lunch and coffee tasting.