The History of The Green Coffee Association
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The Association attempted to convince the State Department of the problems for the Importer in dealing with these entities, and Ansardy of Volkart, Bayer of J.W. Phyfe and Wear of Anderson, Clayton provided detailed information as to the distortions taking place. Sales to "NON-QUOTA" importing countries, became larger and larger, and despite all efforts by the ICO, the Agreement collapsed in 1989.
Throughout the years of the ICA, the Association continued to adjust and work with the changing conditions. Contracts were continually reviewed and revised, and new ones drawn up. Scholtz of
Scholtz & Co., Heuman of Continental Coffee, Apuzzo of Armenia, Wohlfahrt of Savin and Bederka of A.C. Israel all worked to keep the lines of trade between exporting firms and importing firms open. In the years after the collapse of the ICA controls, these efforts proved to be successful, as the Coffee Boards and quasi government bodies almost all exited from the export trade.
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Graders and Testers of the New York Coffee and Sugar Exchange
Circa: 1928
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From the mid 1980's to the present, the GCA itself has had to adjust to changing conditions. Theranks of the USA roasters declined as mergers and consolidation took place; some importing firms had to close as pricing against the futures contracts of NY & London demanded much larger amounts of capital;
scandals and bankruptcies in the U.S. as well as similar events in producing countries, caused banks to restrict credit, or to leave the financing of coffee completely. Through all the turmoil, the GCA contract and arbitration procedure remained a vital necessity. Quality arbitrations were worked on promptly and fairly. So much so, that many nonmembers overseas firms agreed that any arbitration would be based in New York on the terms of the appropriate GCA contract. Technical arbitrations were also decided by the GCA arbitrators for many nonmember coffee producers and importers.
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The current generation of GCA leadership has continued the legacy while confronting the business realities of a rapidly changing world.
Today the GCA carries out its mission and retains its unique identity as the foremost trade association dealing with green coffee in the United States, working in conjunction with the Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange, the world's leading marketplace for trading these commodities.
written by
Abba Bayer of J.W. Fhyfe and Company
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Members of the New York Coffee and Sugar Exchange discuss the fine points of grading. Circa: 1945
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