Foreign Workers Reap Benefits of Coffee Harvest

BETWEEN 150,000 and 200,000coffee pickers, most of whom are fromNicaragua and other countries, will participatein the coffee harvest in CostaRica, which is expected to bring in 2.55million quintales (46-kilo sacks), accordingto the government.The Costa Rican Coffee Institute(Icafé) estimated ¢20.4 billion ($45 million)will be invested in the 2004-2005harvest and distributed among workers.The harvest began in September atlower altitudes, where coffee ripens sooner,but the beans in higher areas will beharvested from November-January.Costa Rica has 62,983 coffee producerswho cultivate the crop on 113,522hectares throughout the country.