Green coffee is traded by crop year, and when a new harvest reaches the market, lots from the previous year are often offered as past crop, sometimes at a lower price. Green coffee slowly loses freshness and moisture over time, and lots held in plain jute in warm conditions can develop flat, woody or baggy flavours. Before accepting a past-crop offer, ask in writing for the crop year, packing date and storage conditions, and approve a fresh sample from that lot rather than an old one.
A past-crop lot is not automatically a poor buy: a well-stored coffee intended for a darker roast or as a blend component can still make commercial sense at the right discount. Atlas can help buyers check the crop year, packing date and storage history of a lot and compare it with new-crop alternatives, so the price difference reflects the real change in quality.