Arabica coffee harvest reaches 66% in Expocacer area by end of July

Last week, operations were partially impacted by higher-than-forecast rainfall, slowing down mechanical harvesting, ground coffee collection, and transport.

The Arabica coffee harvest in the region served by the Cerrado Coffee Growers Cooperative (Expocacer) reached 66% completion on July 31. Of the harvested volume, 46% has already undergone processing, showing an average yield of 500 liters per 60-kg bag of processed coffee. This figure represents a slight lag compared to the same period last year, when progress stood at 70%.

Last week, harvest progress was partially affected by rains recorded between July 24 and 25 across various parts of the Cerrado Mineiro region. In some locations, rainfall volumes exceeded initial forecasts, resulting in a temporary slowdown of field operations.

According to Expocacer field technicians, the rainfall occurred during a period of rapid harvest progress and caused temporary interruptions to some activities—specifically mechanical harvesting, ground coffee collection, and transport—due to increased soil and fruit moisture.

In their weekly report, they note that soil moisture restricted the operation of machinery and equipment in several areas, necessitating a suspension of work until conditions improved. "Furthermore, winds accompanying the rain intensified the drop of dried cherries still on the plants, increasing the volume of coffee falling to the ground," they added.

Regarding quality, a further increase in the sorting rate (percentage of defects/impurities) was observed last week, with the overall figure remaining above 15%. Shipments continue to show a high proportion of green beans and ground-harvested coffee—factors that affect the physical quality of the lots and the resulting beverage, thereby requiring greater attention during the processing and grading stages.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The weather scenario over the past week was marked by an instability system that brought rainfall on July 24 and 25, with accumulations ranging from 25 to 40 millimeters, alongside wind gusts and isolated reports of hail in some areas of the Cerrado Mineiro region.

Following the passage of this system, the weather stabilized, allowing for the gradual resumption of harvesting and processing activities. High temperatures during this period aided fruit drying, improved trafficability for operations, and helped restore the operational pace.

No significant rainfall is forecast for the coming days through August 5, maintaining favorable conditions for continued harvesting across the region. Weather models also indicate a gradual drop in temperatures, with lows potentially reaching around 8°C this week.

Expocacer technicians anticipate that operations will continue at an accelerated pace. However, they advise producers to remain alert to the forecast temperature drop and to monitor weather updates to better plan their field activities.