Victor Melgar's coffee farm

This case study focuses on a coffee farmer in Guatemala who, given current low coffee prices, is worried about his ability to maintain the family tradition of coffee production. He wonders whether the current low prices are just another of the periodic downturns in the volatile coffee market or whether the market is experiencing structural changes that will have long-term implications. In the case, the farmer is presented with three alternatives, including continuing to produce and market commodity coffee. The other alternatives involve changes in production and/or marketing practices intended to increase profit margins.