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Since when is Puerto Rico not part of the US?

From a formal (legal as well? IANAL) standpoint, Puerto Rico is an unincorporated US territory, and thus not a part of the United States. A territory has to be incorporated to gain that status. They're only considered part of the US for "specific legislation."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unincorporated_territories_of_...

Obviously it is legally a territory of the US and Puerto Ricans are American citizens but it's not one of the 50 states.

It contributes to GDP, so why shouldn't it contribute to coffee production stats?

Because it's distinct culturally and politically from the 50 states and (along with the US's other territories) therefore not always necessarily included when one is discussing the United States. Nor do its inhabitants necessarily identify as Americans.

I'm not sure why you're being so pedantic, anyways. I was just hinting at a reason for why the author of this article didn't mention Puerto Rico when they said that Hawaii was the only place in the US where serious coffee cultivation occurs.

So just like Washington DC?

No, obviously not just like Washington DC. I'm not even expressing my opinion in the matter I'm just explaining why Puerto Rico isn't always included when people say "the US"! Why did I get downvoted?

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