COFFEE CRISIS GIVES WORLD MARKET THE JITTERS

A Brazilian freeze last week destroyed at least 30 percent of its 1995 crop, and is now driving up international coffee prices. Today's wholesale price in New York hit $1.88 a pound, a 287 percent increase over last year. Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, reacted by forbiddingcoffee exports. But TIME reporter Ian McCluskey describes the move as "only a temporary measure to keep things stable," and expects all bans to be lifted shortly. Representatives from Latin American coffee growing nations will meet tomorrow in Brasilia todiscuss world coffee stocks, production and supplies.parparSee TIME Daily's Market report for daily coffee prices during the current run-up. For more, click Search Time Online, open Search Past Issues, enter "Coffee". To post your view, click Time Message Boards, open Society folder, select "Coffee: Why so Popular?".parparparparpar