Janson Manor's Kadura Suntan at BOP Auction 2016 Reached $51

Since rose summer has dominated the conversation, you might not have noticed that panamanian specialty coffee production began well before 2003. The Panama Specialty Coffee Association (SCAP) was founded in 1995, and estates like Lerida and Carmen have always been at the forefront of competitors. Unlike today, fine coffee auctions, such as COE or BOP, sold for very low prices. In Panama, many families cut down coffee trees to raise cattle or build houses because coffee farming doesn't make them enough money. Many families must find other businesses or engage in side occupations to make ends meet. Some even moved out of Panama for good.

My family Lamastuses has been growing coffee since 1918, and my other family Boutets has been growing coffee since the 19th century. I was born into a coffee family. Unfortunately, the Boutets sold their coffee estate several generations ago. One of them was El Burro, sold by Arnulfo Boutet to Wilford (my father) and Patrick Lamastus (my uncle) for a few pennies. At the time, no one thought they were valuable.

During my father's lifetime, Elida and El Burro produced high-quality coffee but did not make enough money. My father has been busy making coffee, but he still has to take up other jobs.

In 2004, however, all that changed. The Petersons were the first Panamanian coffee producers to benefit from the advent of rose summer. Since then, families have returned to the coffee industry, foreign investors have bought land in Panama, and eventually almost all families involved in fine coffee production, whether they produce rose or other varieties, feel the positive impact of rose.

At BOP's 2016 auction, Janson Manor's Kadura Suntan reached $51/lb, and others exceeded $33/lb-such as Alida's Kaduai Suntan;Kotowa Duncan Kadura Suntan;Kotowa Witch Manor Tibika Suntan. Outside Panama, La Palma y El Tucan Bourbon, from Colombia, also sold for a surprising $182 a pound this year.

Coffee grown in Panama above 1600 meters above sea level can be sold for more than $5/lb in batches above 500 quintals. Tibika, kadura, kaduai and other traditional varieties can be sold for $7.50 in batches of 50 quintals or more.