Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-03
u. s. COFFEE SALES
TOTAL S35O,0DO,0()O
Many Central and South
American Countries Ben
eft by Trade
BY J. C. ROYLE.

IF the people OF the United States
suddenly were to change their habits OF
diet, it might bring irreparable ruin to
nations in the far corners of the earth
To large extent the prosperity of many
Central and South American countries
is dependent on the amount OF coftee
consumed this year and next year by
the people of the United States, while 70
lose those same citizens as tea con-
sumers would entail disaster to India,
China, Japan and the Orient
Since the days of the old tea clippers,
the pride of the American merchant
marine, trade with the Orient has num-
bered tea among the major commod1-
ties.
Average Consumption.
It is estimated that the average con-
sumption of coffee in America in 1880
will be around pounds per person.
This figure is arrived at through re-
ports of the amount of coffee roasted
and ground in this country. It does
not represent the sales from retail stores
but closely approximates them. The
amount ground and roasted VIII exceed
1000, 000,0 900 pounds this year. The re-
tail value of the product at an average
of IS cents pound would therefore be
above 350,000,000.
There are at least seven Latin Amer
lean countries which are dependent to
some extent on the fate of coffee, but
so long as the fragrant beverage con-
tinues to pass in such streams down
American Threats they have something
to count upon. There are huge stocks
in Brazil, Colombia and other coun-
tries today and the new crops seem
likely to be larger. However, there is
no likelihood of a diminution in con-
sumption, and return to prosperity is
declared to depend on equalizing sup
plies to demand.
The people of the United States are
not such extensive tea drinkers as some
other nations, notably Great Britain,
Canada and Australia, but a huge
amount is consumed here. Normally
tea is a commodity which is handled at
profit in retail stores, but the political
unrest in the orient and the drop in
silver incident to heavy stocks and the
placing of India on gold basis have
disrupted the tea market, which is
peculiarly susceptible to changes in
rates Of foreign exchange for the pro-
ducer.
Tea Sales.
Tea sales in the United States rep
resent from two-tenths of one per cent
to one-half Of one per cent of the total
sales Of grocery stores. The difficulties
faced by the retailers seem to be due to
failure to standardize brands and pack
ages. It is revealed by a Government
survey in one city that the half-pound
package is the best seller. The stores
examined, however. were handling 80
separate items, of which fewer than 80
yielded profit. The number of brands
las increased even faster than tea
drinkers.
Susceptibility to alterations in for
eign exchanges also is noticeable in the
trade in spices. Something like 55, OO0.-
coo pounds of spices will be ground in
this country this year by the 900-odd
establishments engaged wholly or partly
In that trade. while jobbers and retailers
will grind an additional tonnage for
their own or other retail units. The
value Of these commodities, practically
ali Of which come from far-off coun-
tries, viii approximate $2O,000,OO0.
tCopyright, 1900