Coffee is seasonal, and the harvest timetable differs between origins. A crop year therefore does not automatically begin on the first day of the calendar year. The source introduces this distinction because it affects the way production and export figures can be interpreted.
When comparing two statistics, check the period attached to each one and whether it describes production, sales or exports. A calendar-year total and a harvest-cycle total may include different months even when their headings display the same year. They should not be combined without understanding those boundaries.
For a retail lot, harvest information also provides context beyond the date the coffee was roasted. It does not replace storage and quality information, but it can help explain which season the product represents. Use current reporting definitions from the relevant producer or statistical organization rather than an incomplete country list. A clear period makes the number useful; an apparently precise total without that definition can be misleading.
The conversation
A good question can make a better brew.