South America Who’s to Blame for Costly Coffee and Cocoa?

Why are coffee and chocolate so dang expensive!?

“Some of the reasons have to relate to geography. Some relate to the weather. Some are connected with that basic economic principle of supply and demand. And, just possibly, some people think, there has been a little skullduggery, too.” – Text, lower right.

This colorful poster map presents a relatively straightforward physical map of the continent of South America. It was issued in conjunction with a high-school level lesson plan discussing the rising costs of coffee and cocoa, both of which are heavily sourced from our southern neighbors.

Artwork by Schon & Barber. Published by Scholastic Magazines, Inc. as a Headline Focus Wall Map in September 1977. Price graphs and an inflammatory political cartoon on the verso, accompanied by a teaching guide that offers suggestions on incorporating the content into the classroom.