event

Coffee Leaf Rust epidemic reaches Philippines (1889)

Arrival of Hemileia vastatrix in Batangas and Cavite, collapsing the northern Philippine Arabica industry to ~1/6 of peak production within two years. Sulu Robusta plantations were unaffected due to natural rust resistance of Coffea canephora — the accident of varietal choice that made Kahawa Sūg the only intact Philippine coffee region in the aftermath.