“The migration problem is a coffee problem”

We talk about how low coffee prices are driving Central American farmers to migrate to the U.S. and with La Colombe's Todd Carmichael about the coffee business.

Listen 49:03
Small coffee producer Hector Perez dries coffee beans on his home's roof in San Gaspar Vivar, Guatemala, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Small coffee producer Hector Perez dries coffee beans on his home's roof in San Gaspar Vivar, Guatemala, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guests: Todd Carmichael, Kevin Sieff

American’s love coffee – 64% of us have at least a cup a day. But coffee farmers, particularly small farmers in Central America are struggling. Low global prices and leaf rust disease have had a devastating effect on coffee crops in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, leading many to migrate to the United States. This hour, we look at the coffee crisis and how it’s contributing to the migration crisis at our border with The Washington Post’s KEVIN SIEFF.  And we’ll talk with La Colombe’s co-founder and CEO, TODD CARMICHAEL, about the coffee business and his work with small farmers around the globe.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal