Jun 08 2010
Organic Coffee
In recent years there have been scientific breakthroughs linking the use of pesticides and other chemicals to health conditions and even birth defects. These discoveries have created a surge in the popularity of all natural products and all natural growing methods. Organic coffee is one such product.
Organic coffee is coffee grown without the use of chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It also includes coffee that does not have any chemicals involved in the processing of the coffee beans.
Coffee is one of the most chemically processed products on the market. There are chemical solvents used during the processing in addition to the pesticides and fertilizers that are used during the growing stage.
In order to be labeled as an organic coffee, the coffee plantation must not use any artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. They must instead rely upon natural remedies for pests and to enhance growth.
Coffee Berries on the Tree
In addition to this, in order to be certified and sold as organic coffee in the United States it must meet three making requirements:
1. The coffee beans must be grown in land that has not had artificial pesticides or herbicides used on it for at least three years. This gives the soil time to recover and guarantees the beans have no chemicals in them.
2. If there are other crops being grown nearby, the plantation must have a sufficient buffer space between the organic grown coffee and the traditional crop. This is to prevent cross contamination from water run-off or the air.
3. The plantation that is trying to become certified organic must also have a plan in place for sustainability, including crop rotation to aid in the prevention of erosion and the depletion of soil nutrients along with a plan for controlling pests organically.
Consumers can rest assured that the coffee is truly organic when the plantation goes through the process of becoming certified. The roasters should also be certified if they want to keep the organic certification listing. This means using water processes for decaffeinating coffee beans rather than chemical solvents. It also includes the use of only natural flavorings if the coffee is going to be flavored.
All of these practices help to keep the coffee that reaches the consumers cup free from chemicals that can harm their body. While on one hand it may increase the cost of the coffee, the overall cost savings to their health is worth the added cost to the coffee.
Organic coffee has become a large share of the coffee market. As this market share continues to grow other coffee plantations will have to adapt to the change and become certified to keep up with the changing tides.
-Sharon Chapman