Organic Coffee

Organic coffee, which means no chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides nor fertilizers were used in the production process, is a specialty coffee in increasingly high demand.

In order to be certified as organic, the coffee must be inspected and the cultivation practices verified by an independent third party such as the Organic Crop Improvement Association. Quality Assurance International is also one of the organizations which certifies organic coffee under USDA guidelines. The premium price commanded by certified organic coffee ensures a stable monetary return for coffee workers and producers.

The intense use of chemicals in coffee production is a widely known problem in many coffee producing nations which use highly toxic chemicals such as DDT which has been banned in Europe and the United States. Coffee pickers, who often work long hours for little pay without health care or benefits, are exposed to these harsh chemicals on the coffee plants. These chemicals also leach into water sources causing illnesses in local populations. Children are especially vulnerable to exposure of the chemicals used in coffee production because they often help in the coffee harvest. High tech coffee growing methods on large plantations remove valuable shade trees for higher yielding full sun varieties which require more pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Organic coffee is a long term sustainable crop grown in the traditional method under a canopy of trees at high altitudes (over 5,000 feet above sea level). The shade trees protect the coffee plants from the sun and provide an environment in which the coffee plants thrive. The diverse plant and animal life form natural checks and balances mitigating the need for chemical treatment. The abundant vegetation on shade grown coffee farms produces natural compost that yields nutrient rich soil ideal for coffee plants. The forest canopy creates a natural habitat for hundreds of species of migratory and native song birds which in turn protect the coffee plants against insects and other pests. This environment results in a larger, denser bean with a rich flavor superior to that of full sun grown varieties.

Organic coffee growing practices are the traditional methods which have been used for hundreds of years in coffee cultivation. These practices include inter-planting coffee plants with larger shade trees, composting, and organic fertilizers and pest control. Currently these traditional methods are more commonly used on small farms than the large commercial plantations.

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