BETWEEN 150,000 and 200,000coffee pickers, most of whom are fromNicaragua and other countries, will participatein the coffee harvest in CostaRica, which is expected to bring in 2.55million quintales (46-kilo sacks), accordingto the government.The Costa Rican Coffee Institute(Icafé) estimated ¢20.4 billion ($45 million)will be invested in the 2004-2005harvest and distributed among workers.The harvest began in September atlower altitudes, where coffee ripens sooner,but the beans in higher areas will beharvested from November-January.Costa Rica has 62,983 coffee producerswho cultivate the crop on 113,522hectares throughout the country.
