I'm
sure you've noticed that the last couple trips down to the local
coffee shop or to the supermarket, you've seen some coffee products
that have advertised itself as 100% organically grown. Although the
term organic has a nice ring to it and organic farming techniques
generally produce better tasting products, what exactly is organic
coffee? The answer is a bit complicated, as organic coffee touches
on a number of issues.
The
rise in the popularity of organic coffee has been a direct response
to the changes in the international coffee trade. As coffee is one
of the three most traded commodities in the world, coffee production
is big business. However, as many coffee lovers have surely noticed,
the cost of coffee hasn't really risen in this period. As a result,
traditional coffee farming methods have been reshaped in ways that
causes damage to the natural environment. Additionally, many smaller
coffee farmers have been forced to either change their techniques or
lose their farms due to the lowering profits brought in by coffee.
This has created a new type of coffee that is growing in popularity
and is closely aligned to the organic coffee movement: fair trade
coffee.
Organic coffee refers to coffee production using organic farming
methods. Some of the principles involved in organic farming
including the avoidance of synthetic chemicals and genetically
modified organisms in farming. Additionally, organic coffee growers
follow the principles of sustainable agriculture that places an
emphasis on soil health that results in healthier food. Due to the
changing nature of the coffee trade, coffee production has moved
from traditional coffee growing methods to modern methods that has
negative consequences on the environment.
One
of the most fundamental principals of organic coffee growing is the
use of shade trees. Traditional methods of coffee growing involved
inter-planting coffee with shade trees, composting, and eliminating
harmful chemicals. These principals were used in the Yemeni port
city of Mocha, which continues to use these methods and produce one
of the most highly desired and tasty gourmet coffees today. However,
due to the difficulty of coffee growing and the lowering profit in
the coffee trade for coffee formers, many coffee growers have began
to grow coffee in full sun fields. The reason for this change is
strictly economic, as this method results in the growth of more
coffee beans at a lower price. Many traditional coffee growers have
been forced to make this switch of coffee growing due to declining
profits.
Organic coffee, however, is not grown in full sun fields. The reason
is that this method of coffee growing has a number of serious
environmental effects. One of these problems involves birds that
visit America during the summer months but migrate annually to and
from Latin America in the other parts of the year. The habitat of
these birds in Latin America has become increasingly converted to
sun-grown coffee plantations that have resulted in a loss of forest
habitation. A problem that the National wildlife Federation (NWF)
and other environmental groups have been trying to rectify.
Additionally, the use of full sun coffee plantations has led to the
deforestation of traditional coffee plantations in central America
and Mexico. As one of the leading coffee growing areas in the world,
these parts of the world have already suffered major losses of
tropical forest. With the increasing use of full sun coffee
plantations, further deforestation is placing central America and
Mexico in further environmental danger. Another consequence of
deforestation that has been driven by the deforestation of shade
grown coffee plantations is that it has increased the use of
powerful pesticides. Considering that when trees are cleared,
natural predators that have kept inserts in check are no longer
present, farmers are increasingly have to rely on pesticides that
harms the wildlife, themselves, and the taste of coffee that is
grown in these areas.
Organic coffee is produced in conditions that are conducive to the
environment that many feel actually results in a better tasting cup
of coffee. Specialty coffee and gourmet coffee like Kona, Mocha, and
Java are produced in organic coffee growing conditions. Although
there are only two predominant types of coffee plants, the
characteristics of coffee are highly dependent on the specific
conditions in which the coffee plant is growing. The quality of soil
and the elevation of the coffee growing area will determine
the quality of the coffee bean that is grown. The traditional
growing methods used for organic coffee promotes the use of shade
trees and the mixing of coffee crops with other food crops. These
practices result in a healthier soil that prevents water
contamination and provides a home for migratory birds. Additionally,
the absence of pesticides results in a cup of coffee that is
healthier to drink.
As
coffee lovers learn more about the specific conditions of coffee
growing, they are becoming increasingly attracted to organic coffee
drinks and everybody wants to leave the environment in a letter
state than it has been. To help out, it is recommended that you
purchase some certified organic coffee products. Not only will you
be doing something for the environment, you will be feeding your
social conscience with a delicious cup of organic coffee that just
tastes great!
