《关于咖啡的案例分析的经济论文》.docVIP

INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS SUMMATIVE ASSIGNMENT CASE STUDY INFORMATION – COFFEE Coffee growing countries Freshly picked green coffee beans Women weeding around coffee trees 1. COFFEE BEAN PRODUCERS (GROWERS) i ‘Coffee is the world’s second most valuable traded commodity, behind only petroleum’ . Growing Coffee 大约有25万种植咖啡的农民和超过50万的咖啡工人的国家位于世界的热带地区。咖啡豆在高海拔地区肥沃的土壤里生长最好的。 There are about 25 million coffee farmers and coffee workers in more than 50 countries situated in the tropical regions of the world. Coffee beans come from trees that grow best in rich soil and at a high altitude. Brazil is by far the largest producer, followed by Colombia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico. Coffee is also grown in Africa, with Ethiopia being the largest of that continent’s producersii. Coffee plantations vary in size, but the /mtk/2250.html small farm is common. Traditional coffee growing is labour-intensive; that is, there is little automation and constant worker attention is required. Coffee seeds are planted, in areas with good shade, and are tended as they grow. The area around the trees is weeded. The berries, which contain the coffee beans, are picked and the beans contained therein are dried. Coffee trees produce berries for harvest after around 5 years (and then continue to produce for many years). In Brazil, however, new industrial methods have been developed whereby large areas of land, not usually used to grow coffee, are cleared of trees by tractors (the cut trees are sold to other businesses). Coffee seeds are planted. Water is pumped from rivers to the plantation. Coffee can grow well in the sun without shade if fertilisers, fungicides and other chemicals are added to the water. The areas around the trees are sp