Coffee growers leave the fields of Guatemala to improve their quality-of-life

Americas Now

Guatemala has been producing coffee for 150 years. But as an unstable market prevails, a coffee crisis is brewing.

Immigration from countries in Central America’s northern triangle to the United States has occurred for decades. Political instability, violence, and economic hardship are just some of the many reasons behind the exodus.

But a recent surge from Guatemala to the U.S. has been linked to an economic phenomenon happening globally – the price of the coffee in your cup.

Correspondent Harris Whitbeck reports from Guatemala.

Most of the coffee consumed worldwide is grown in Latin America. In addition to Guatemala and Brazil other top-coffee producing countries include Colombia, Honduras, Venezuela and Peru.