Two thirds of the world's coffee comes from Latin America, which has dominated global production since the 19th century. With 15 billion dollars in annual sales, coffee is the world's most valuable commodity after oil, providing 10 nations with over 50% of their foreign exchange.

COFFEE IS THE GOLD OF THE FUTURE tells the history of coffee in Colombia, and a history of Colombia as seen through the story of coffee.

Moving between small coffee growing communities, the world of big planters organized in the Colombia National Coffee Growers Federation, and the international arena of agribusiness and the control system of the International Coffee Agreement, COFFEE IS THE GOLD OF THE FUTURE explores the problems of land ownership, market control by middlemen, agrarian reform programs, and massive price fluctuations.

Touching on aspects of Colombian political history such as the violent civil war "La Violencia" as well as the development of its most important economic product, COFFEE IS THE GOLD OF THE FUTURE asks whether there is any future for small-scale peasant production in this era of agribusiness, modernized production methods, and international controls.

"A versatile piece that manages to assimilate highly relevant information concerning the origin and development of the coffee market... Useful for college classes in international economics, international relations, and political science." - Choice

"Choice Pick... [Curling's and Clayton's] curiously effective amalgam of actuality and simulation reveals some unsuspected truths about the way the wonder bean has also kept commerce and politics in a state of maximum alertness ever since the first revivifying cupful of the brew was swallowed." - The Times (London)

"College courses in international economics and business would find these materials of interest, especially those dealing with problems of emerging economies." - Library Journal

"Recommended for all libraries." - Choice