The production of coffee on the highlands of the western portion of Bahia state began a few years ago. Large-scale technology-intensive coffee harvesting projects are prevalent throughout the region. Perfect climate conditions have yielded coffee beans with homogeneous maturation and productivity rates higher than in any other Brazilian coffee producing area. The superior quality of the natural, peeled cherry and pulped natural coffees produced on the highlands of western Bahia is equal to that of the best Brazilian coffees being exported to discriminating international markets. The region is expected to reach soon a yearly output of 1.0 million bags. Coffee growing has changed the region's economy, creating jobs, increasing wealth and causing development. The local coffee plantations have thrived in a rational environmentally-safe fashion resulting in sustainable development for the region.