KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw says there is urgent need to increase production of Blue Mountain and High Mountain coffee to supply the local stores of American coffee chain, Starbucks.

The minister was addressing farmers from across the island at the 123rd annual general meeting of the Jamaica Agricultural Society at the Denbigh showground in May Pen, Clarendon, on Wednesday.

Shaw told the farmers that “we have already started the process, and last year, we committed $80 million to begin to support the resuscitation of Blue Mountain Coffee.”

He indicated that coffee farmers will benefit from the distribution of fertiliser in short order.

“Starbucks isn’t here to just import all their coffee. They have pledged to work with us,” Shaw told the farmers.

About 15 Starbucks locations are planned for Jamaica. Five have already been opened at locations in Montego Bay, St James; Falmouth, Trelawny; and Liguanea, St Andrew.