by Ray Fauteux

Created on: February 10, 2009   Last Updated: February 20, 2009

It's becoming widely accepted that organic coffee beans are far superior from those that are grown using more conventional techniques. There is much more involved in growing organic coffee and as a result, the price you will pay at the retail level is much high than the price of conventionally-grown coffee, but the finished product is well worth the cost to those who love their coffee.

Organic coffee plants have to be protected from the ravages of insecticides and fertilizers that have permeated the soil of most coffee growing areas. As a result, it's necessary to have a growing area that is basically pristine and free of any additives that can alter the flavor of the coffee beans.

An ideal scenario for growing organic coffee is to have a tract of land covered with shade trees in an area that has a large bird population. The trees serve to purify the soil and also serve to provide protection from water contamination. Many coffee growing areas have a limited amount of trees, and this forces growers to plant the bulk of their coffee crop in the open fields that are thick with pesticides, fertilizers, and other assorted chemicals. Growing organic beans under shade trees has another huge advantage. The trees naturally attract birds that feed on the insects. In effect, the birds do the work of harmful chemical pesticides that are normally used out in the open fields.

There doesn't seem to be a method yet of growing non-organic coffee beans without using some form of synthetic chemical that is ultimately harmful to the environment. The over-use of pesticides in order to perpetuate more substantial crop yields has raised questions about the quality of today's mass-produced coffee and possible health side-effects that may result.

Every year more and more small organic coffee plantations are springing up and hopefully this will soon result in a more affordable product as the supply increases to meet the demand.

If more growers were to commit themselves to growing only organic coffee it would go a long way toward supplying that demand. One of the biggest problems is finding tracts of land that have not been ruined by over-use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers.

With any luck it won't be long before the large, chemical-laden coffee plantations are a thing of the past. Perhaps one day soon, coffee lovers everywhere will begin to realize that organically grown coffee beans are the key to that perfect cup of morning coffee that is kind to the environment and at the same time, far better for their health and well-being.

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