Organic coffee grown from organic farming techniques grow without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. That is a good thing right? Yes. Just like fair trade coffee, buying organic coffee benefits the farmer, environment and you.
This style of coffee growing is increasingly in high demand, especially as coffee lovers around the world become aware of some of the growing conditions throughout the world and its impact on the surrounding environments.
CoffeeReview.com brings up an excellent point in its coffee and health section on pesticides and chemicals. Here's a short excerpt from it:
"The concerns raised by those apprehensive about the use of pesticides and agricultural chemicals in coffee growing are twofold. First is the health issue for the consumer: whether harmful chemical residues may reach our systems when we drink coffee. Second are the related environmental and social issues: whether buying coffees that may be grown with the help of potentially harmful chemicals contributes to the destruction of the environment and threatens the health of the rural poor who raise coffee."
There are three primary organic growing regions, which mostly do organic coffee wholesale, including:
- Peru
- Ethiopia
- Mexico
Of course, just because it is "organic," doesn't mean it is certified organic coffee. According to the Organic Trade Association, the U.S. Congress adopted the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) in 1990 which then went through a rigorous overhaul and then was introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and implemented in October 2002, which defines organic coffees as:
"Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. It includes a system of production, processing, distribution and sales that assures consumers that the products maintain the organic integrity that begins on the farm."
And according to OFPA, there are three main requirements, including:
Grown on land without synthetic pesticides or other prohibited substances for 3 years. A sufficient buffer exists between organic and the closest traditional crop. Sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent erosion, the depletion of soil nutrients, and control for pests.
But what are the benefits of buying organic coffee?
- By choosing organics you are choosing the best ingredients for yourself and your family
- By purchasing organic coffee you support the farmers who decide to grow coffee using organic methods, and help them repay their debt and sustain economically
- Organic farming promotes long term sustainability of soil and water supplies
I guess one of the main reasons I would encourage you to buy organic is not only because of the health benefits, but because it helps the local farmer. Sure, you can go down to your grocery store or local coffee shop and buy your favorite non-organic and that is fine, but try slipping in some organic every other time.
For one, organic is cheaper to grow, but the crops do not yield as much as non-organic grown so the overall revenue is lower.
In a sense, every time a person buys a cup of organic, they are helping the local farmer in Peru. They are helping a farm worker put their kid through school. This might be a bit of a stretch, but for me, it is better to know where my dollars are spent.
What do you think? Contact me via my e-mail in my bio or via Twitter.
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