Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - Page updated at 12:38 p.m.
Rewind: Live chat: Effects of climate change on coffee production
Seattle Times business reporter Melissa Allison and staff photographer Erika Schultz traveled to Costa Rica to document how climate change is taking a toll on coffee growers. They discussed their reporting and photography in a live chat Wednesday, along with John Michael Wallace, a University of Washington professor of atmospheric sciences.
Climate change takes toll on coffee growers, drinkers too
Shifting temperatures and erratic rainfall are taking a toll on the lucrative coffee crop in Costa Rica. Yields are way down, part of the reason coffee drinkers here are paying more for their morning cup.
ERIKA SCHULTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Gallery | Coffee growers in Costa Rica
Isaella Abrego-Abrego (right) and Ermelinda Abrego, workers from Panama, carry baskets of ripe coffee up a steep hill at Ricardo Calderón Madrigal's farm in Costa Rica.
Chat with Seattle Times journalists and experts
Melissa Allison, business reporter
Melissa has been a reporter at The Seattle Times since 2004. She covers Starbucks, Costco and business general assignment stories. Find her on Twitter: @AllisonSeattle
Erika Schultz, staff photographer
Erika has worked at The Seattle Times for five years. She most enjoys human-interest assignments and working on stories that people may not be aware of in our community. Find her on Twitter: @erikajschultz
John Michael Wallace, UW atmospheric sciences professor
John Michael Wallace focuses on research that improves our understanding of global climate and its year-to-year and decade-to-decade variations. He has contributed to the identification and understanding of a number of atmospheric phenomena.
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