http://buyorganiccoffee.org/organic-certified-coffees/ Organic Certified Coffees Healthy organic coffee is grown without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and synthetic fertilizers. Drink organic coffee and avoid the more-than-100 impurities that can be found in a cup of regular coffee. Look for organic certified coffees when you shop or order online. Organic certified coffees have a USDA, UTZ or Rainforest Alliance seal on the bag. USDA certified coffee is the gold standard. But, many small organic coffee growers cannot afford the price of USDA organic coffee certification so they cannot bring organic certified coffees to market and often sell locally at the same price that regular coffee brings. Here is where organizations like UTZ come into the picture. They require the same high standards for organic certified coffees but they also help growers find a market for their high quality organic coffee. USDA Certification According to the USDA, the following applies to USDA organic coffee as well as to all organic food production. “… Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations…” Organic certified coffees with the USDA seal are the gold standard to which all other organic certified coffees are compared. UTZ Certification A UTZ grower learns to do the following and then continues to do what is needed. To 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, 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, trace coffee from planting to roaster and carry out internal inspections every year. Rainforest Alliance Certification The process of getting certified by Rainforest Alliance is similar to getting UTZ Certified. Growers start by achieving partial success and grow into the eventual requirements. Rainforest Alliance requires that coffee growers meet half of the criteria for any given area of concern to start with and meet eighty percent of requirements overall. These criteria include ecosystem preservation, safety of wild animals, watershed conservation, fair hiring and labor practices, appropriate safety measures for workers, and strict adherence to agrochemical use standards. An additional feature of this program is the prohibition of genetically modified crops.

1. Organic Certified Coffees

2. Healthy organic coffee is grown without
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and
synthetic fertilizers.

3. Drink organic coffee and avoid the
more-than-100 impurities that can be
found in a cup of regular coffee.

4. Look for organic certified coffees when
you shop or order online.

5. Organic certified coffees have a USDA,
UTZ or Rainforest Alliance seal on the
bag. USDA certified coffee is the gold
standard.

6. But, many small organic coffee growers
cannot afford the price of USDA organic
coffee certification so they cannot bring
organic certified coffees to market and
often sell locally at the same price that
regular coffee brings.

7. Here is where organizations like UTZ
come into the picture.

8. They require the same high standards
for organic certified coffees but they
also help growers find a market for their
high quality organic coffee.

9. USDA Certification

10. According to the USDA, the following
applies to USDA organic coffee as well
as to all organic food production.

11. “… Organic food is produced by
farmers who emphasize the use of
renewable resources and the
conservation of soil and water to
enhance environmental quality for
future generations…”

12. Organic certified coffees with the USDA
seal are the gold standard to which all
other organic certified coffees are
compared.

13. UTZ Certification

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

15. To 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,

17. teach and require good hygiene, trace
coffee from planting to roaster and
carry out internal inspections every
year.

18. Rainforest Alliance
Certification

19. The process of getting certified by
Rainforest Alliance is similar to getting
UTZ Certified. Growers start by
achieving partial success and grow into
the eventual requirements.

20. Rainforest Alliance requires that coffee
growers meet half of the criteria for any
given area of concern to start with and
meet eighty percent of requirements
overall.

21. These criteria include ecosystem
preservation, safety of wild animals,
watershed conservation, fair hiring and
labor practices, appropriate safety
measures for workers, and strict
adherence to agrochemical use
standards.

22. An additional feature of this program is
the prohibition of genetically modified
crops.

23. Six of One and Half a
Dozen of the Other

24. All of the certification processes give
you organic certified coffees. Organic
shade grown coffee is a top of the line
product.

25. Growing coffee this way protects the
environment and gives you the best
coffee. Whether you go the USDA route
or like UTZ or Rainforest Alliance you
will be getting organic certified coffees.

26. If you are having trouble finding organic
certified coffees and especially if you
are interested in wholesale organic
coffee contact us at Buy Organic
Coffee.

27. 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.