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Article: Port perks: Coffee business strong in New Orleans but competition brews along the Gulf
- Article from:
- New Orleans CityBusiness
- Article date:
- October 5, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 New Orleans CityBusiness. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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The recession may have forced Americans to cut back on
extravagances such as new cars and vacations -- even chocolate --
but apparently they aren't willing to give up their coffee.
That warm comfort during a cool economy is helping buoy New
Orleans, one of the nation's top coffee import and roasting centers
despite Hurricane Katrina setbacks.
But to retain its caffeinated edge, the Crescent City will have
to grapple with growing competition from other ports and industry
consolidation.
Once the top U.S. coffee port, New Orleans slipped to No. 2
behind New York-New Jersey earlier this decade, although coffee
imports into New Orleans are on the rise. From January to May, they
totaled 100,024 ...