http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1071/organic-shade-grown-coffee/ Organic Shade Grown Coffee If you are looking for the best coffee, the best healthy organic coffee, you are probably looking for organic shade grown coffee. As the name implies, shade grown organic coffee is grown in the shade of a tree canopy. These habitats are commonly in a cloudy part of a mountain range. Coffee growers plant coffee where there are already trees or plant coffee along with a variety of shade trees. This sustainable agricultural practice results in high quality organic coffee. Birds nest in the shade trees which are the cornerstone of this healthy habitat. Many coffee farmers plant plantain or fruit trees along with their coffee. This practice provides shade for the coffee and a secondary crop or two to harvest. Look for USDA, UTZ or Rainforest Alliance certification when you want organic shade grown coffee. Unfortunately, there are many coffee farmers who simply harvest coffee that grows in the forest and sell locally because they cannot afford fees necessary to gain official USDA organic coffee certification of their product. The United States Department of Agriculture certifies organic shade grown coffee through its many offshore affiliates but the USDA does not help a small grower in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia or Ecuador to find buyers. On the other hand both UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance work with coffee farmers to help them market their products.

1. Organic
Shade Grown
Coffee

2. If you are looking for the best coffee, the
best healthy organic coffee, you are
probably looking for organic shade grown
coffee.

3. As the name implies, shade grown organic
coffee is grown in the shade of a tree
canopy.

4. These habitats are commonly in a cloudy
part of a mountain range. Coffee growers
plant coffee where there are already trees or
plant coffee along with a variety of shade
trees.

5. This sustainable agricultural practice results
in high quality organic coffee.

6. Birds nest in the shade trees which are the
cornerstone of this healthy habitat.
Organic Shade Grown Coffee Habitat for Birds

7. Many coffee farmers plant plantain or fruit
trees along with their coffee.

8. This practice provides shade for the coffee
and a secondary crop or two to harvest.

9. Look for USDA, UTZ or Rainforest Alliance
certification when you want organic shade
grown coffee.

10. Unfortunately, there are many coffee farmers
who simply harvest coffee that grows in the
forest and sell locally because they cannot
afford fees necessary to gain official USDA
organic coffee certification of their product.

11. The United States Department of Agriculture
certifies organic shade grown coffee through
its many offshore affiliates but the USDA
does not help a small grower in Mexico,
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia
or Ecuador to find buyers. On the other hand
both UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance work
with coffee farmers to help them market their
products.

12. UTZ Organic Shade
Grown Coffee

13. The long term goals of UTZ are good
agricultural practices, safe and healthy
working conditions, abolishment of child
labor, and environmental protection.

14. A UTZ grower learns to do the following and
then continues to do what is needed.

15.  Reduce and prevent soil erosion
 Keep records of fertilizer and chemical use
and use these products responsibly
 Follow good farming practices including
integrated pest management
 Avoid deforestation

16.  Protect water sources, native and
endangered species
 Use native fauna for shade grown coffee
 Train workers properly in their own language
 Implement and follow through on health and
safety requirements
 Teach and require good hygiene

17. UTZ follows coffee from planting to the
roaster, carries out yearly inspections and
promotes the organic shade grown coffee
brands of its clients.

18. Rain Forest Alliance
Organic Shade Grown
Coffee

19. An alternative to organic coffee certification
is for a grower to be Rainforest Alliance
certified.

20. The Rainforest Alliance is a non-
governmental organization that works to
conserve biodiversity.

21. It does so for agricultural products by
influencing consumers to buy what is good
for the environment and good for small
farmers.

22. Rainforest Alliance certified means that the
coffee that you buy was produced using
good land use practices.

23. Rainforest Alliance certified coffee is part of
a broader sustainable agriculture program
of tropical crops, including coffee, bananas,
cocoa, oranges, cut flowers, ferns, and tea.

24. Certified coffee farms meet a strict set of
environmental standards that include
preservation of the ecosystem and reduction
in use of synthetic chemicals of all sorts.

25. Like UTZ, Rain Forest Alliance helps its
clients promote their organic shade grown
coffee brands.

26. For help finding small growers of organic
shade grown coffee deal with people who
work where it is grown. Contact Buy Organic
Coffee for more info.