by Colette Georgii

Created on: May 13, 2007   Last Updated: March 26, 2009

What is organic coffee?

Organic coffee is grown according to organic standards such as not using pesticides, herbicides, or any other dangerous chemicals in the processing of coffee. Organic coffee is grown organically and sustainably on 30 organic coffee farms around the world. The lead countries that produce organic coffees are Peru, Ethiopia, and Mexico. The United States produces organic coffee in Hawaii.

In the United States the organic standards are set by the USDA. According to the Organic Trade Association, in order for any food product to be organic certain procedures must be followed.

* The food in this case, coffee, must be certified by an agency accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

* The land must be farmed without the use of synthetic pesticides or other prohibited substances for three years prior to being certified.

* There must be a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent erosion, depletion of soil nutrients, and control of pests.

Organic coffee that is decaffeinated uses a different decaffeination process than traditional coffee. Water is used in the organic decaffeination process. Traditional coffee is processed for decaffeination with the use of two highly toxic chemicals.

* methyline chloride - a probable cause of cancer and harmful to the central nervous system

* ethel acetate - harmful to the central nervous system, the kidneys, and the liver

Organic coffee contains the organic label when 95 percent of its ingredients are organic. Labels can state "100 percent organic" or "organic."

Organic coffee is produced like any other organically grown product. Organically grown products are grown using a totally different approach to modern day farming methods. Modern farming methods came into being after World War II when soldiers learned how to use different types of chemicals to move through the jungles. Original farming methods are more similar to organic farming and totally different than modern day farming used on traditional and corporate farms.

Modern day farming with the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals is a big contributor to cancer. Many farmers suffer from diseases related to the use of these chemicals. When we eat modern day grown products we shorten our life by exposing ourselves to harmful cancer-causing enzymes.

Organic farming methods consist of composting; crop rotation; no use of pesticides, herbicides, or any type of chemical harmful to plants or animals. The processing of organic products must also be

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