According to legend, an Ethiopian goatherd skipped around after eating coffee cherries when he saw his goats doing the same after eating the cherries. Coffee was a simple food and beverage for African tribesmen. Now, it is sold in large quantities worldwide. All coffee exporting countries depend on coffee as the main income. Many people depend on it for their living uncounted millions down it by the potful. In 1975, a frost killed almost half of Brazil’s coffee trees which sent retail prices into orbit. In 1979, frost hit Brazil again and the income loss is huge considering 15 million trees were lost. Brazil had to stop the export of coffee. Importers bought it in bulk afraid of the shortage. Prices increased and farmers planted more. Coffee was in available a lot and the prices fell. Farmers began substituting coffee for other crops. Producers and consumers agree that the only sensible solution is to limit output to what the market can absorb, plus a standby reserve, and sell at prices reasonable to both sides.

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