by Katriena Knights

Created on: February 05, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2009

More and more people are switching from traditionally grown produce to organic because of the reduced environmental impact and concerns about use of pesticides. Coffee is no exception to this trend. Organic coffee has become readily available, and some coffee lovers swear by its quality and superior taste over traditionally grown beans.

In order to be certified as organic, any product, including coffee, must meet several standards defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These include pesticide-free farming for at least three years before the produce can be certified, as well as not using any other sorts of chemicals. Also required is a crop rotation plan to prevent soil depletion.

Under normal farming conditions, coffee is the third most-sprayed crop in the world. Organic coffee, then, removes exposure to a possibly high exposure level to chemical pesticides and fertilizers not only to coffee drinkers, but even more so for those who grow the crop. Organic farming methods are also much less harsh to the surrounding environment.

Coffee grows naturally in the shade of other plants, usually trees, as it doesn't require much direct sunlight. These other plants provide protection, as well as mulch when their leaves fall and decompose in the soil surrounding the coffee plants. The shading plants also serve as a home for birds that can help control pests that would otherwise feed on the coffee.

Traditional spraying is harmful to the birds, as well as other surrounding plant life and coffee growers. Other commercially grown coffee is often planted in the open, as well, removing the shade from the coffee plants as well as the protective surrounding vegetation. So, for coffee grown in a more natural environment, look for "shade-grown" coffee. Not all shade-grown coffee is organic, though, so read your labels carefully.

Another aspect of organic coffee production is the process of decaffeination. To be certified organic, coffee must be decaffeinated with chemical-free processes. One of the most common and popular processes used to decaffeinate organic coffee is the Swiss Water process, which uses only water to remove caffeine.

Over forty countries currently produce organic coffee, led by Peru, Ethiopia, and Mexico. With organic coffee representing a rapidly growing market, more countries will likely join this list in the near future, but even now the variety of available coffees is tremendous as more people become aware of how their coffee is grown and produced. Other labels to look for on coffee include Fair Trade, which means the coffee growers, usually members of small cooperatives, are guaranteed a higher market price for their coffee.

Bird Friendly coffee has been grown under conditions approved by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. About 78% of Fair Trade coffee is also grown organically, but in order to receive the Bird Friendly seal, coffee must be grown under organic conditions.

So if you're a coffee lover, and concerned about the effect coffee growing might have on the environment, you have plenty of choices out there. Just look for the certified organic label, and enjoy a steaming hot cup of your favorite brew.

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