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Organic coffee is really not that different from any other "organically grown" crop that can readily be purchased at your local supermarket. The process of growing organic crops involves using only organic (or non-chemical) ingredients in the growing process. No pesticides are used.

Coffee is also being grown more often in fields that are also planted with shade trees. The full sun fields that had become more popular in recent years are beginning to fade.

Ok, so what are the benefits of "organically grown" coffee? Does it taste better than regular coffee? Not really, as most all chemicals used on plants during the growing season are burned off during the roasting process. However, when insecticides and pesticides are not used to spray the coffee fields, the damages that such chemicals do to the environment, and the people living in the areas where they are used, are reduced drastically.

Pesticides have long been known to kill wildlife, ponds, and ecosystems. They are also well known to cause damages to our health, and have been linked to cancer.

When coffee is grown organically, it is grown in a more healthy manner, thus creating a healthier product in the end. It also makes for a much healthier environment. However, there is really little or no difference in the way the organically grown products taste; there is a noticeable difference in price, though.

Organically grown coffee (and other organically grown crops as well) tend to be much higher than ones who were not organically grown. This is because it costs more to grow organic crops and so the increase in cost is carried along to the consumer.

Most people tend to buy the cheaper, chemically grown products because in our economy today, we have to be very cost conscious. Also there is little if any difference in the quality of the product, so most consumers would not consider it to be worth more than a similar product.

If more people become interested in protecting our environment, and as such buy more organically grown produce, we can improve the condition of our existing environment, as well as prevent further damage to an already fragile ecosystem. By growing their coffee using organic means, todays farmers are trying to do their part to help protect our earth, and create a healthier product and safer environment for their consumers.

Learn more about this author, Mary Hale.
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