Chaos in Colombia Quimbaya Colombian Coffee. LLC Owner Alex Lozano Windsor, WI Episode 85 This week's guest is the owner of Quimbaya Colombian Coffee. He is however on the show for this episode not promoting his coffee or his business but discussing the issues in his homeland. The reason for this lack of self-promotion will become crystal-clear in this interview. We are taking a break from our usual routine and revisiting Covid coffee Chronicles where we tackle specific subjects, related to the coffee industry. If you’ve been following Colombia this may be a refresher course, if you have no idea what we’re talking about stay tuned for some eye-opening information. The impact on Alex’s business is magnified, and that he has all of the components of his coffee business taking place in Colombia from growing the seed to roasting the beans. Colombia is the third largest coffee producer of coffee in the world, with over two million Colombians dependent on this source of revenue from coffee production for their income. That is over 25% of the rural population. The combination of civil unrest, a worsening of the Covid pandemic and the culmination of building resentment to lack of representation and pay inequities have forced everything to head. The newest demonstrations there are putting a halt to commerce, on many fronts. This is resulting in a significant early impact on the coffee industry, and specifically on our small businesses focus this week. Tired of “tax reforms”, lack of government representation and being squeezed on both the wages and price market, people are “not going to take it anymore”. What about the farmers in the rural areas? What is stopping them from harvesting their crop? Can anything be done to protect them? Hey but this is all happening in Colombia why should it affect me here in the USofA? Learn how the anti government protesters are causing the extreme slow down of coffee exportation, and why what happens there today can affect you here tomorrow! Alex Lozano shares his personal stories from his homeland and the heartbreak over the unrest. He also talks about his beloved country and how the slow down of coffee production is not only affecting not only him, but potentially the lovers of coffee in his new country, the United States of America. Listen to a boots on the ground discussion of all things Colombia from someone who grew up there, smelling the aroma of his grandma's freshly brewed coffee. Alex ends with a poignant and extremely important request of coffee drinkers everywhere. It's a simple ask, but truly something everyone could and should be doing. So for right now as long as supplies last feel free to order some fantastic Colombian coffee from Quimbaya Colombian Coffee, LLC. https://quimbayacoffee.com      .