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Did you know that coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world?
Your “Cup of Joe” is most likely a “cup of chemicals”…that is, if it is not certified organic coffee. Up to 250 pounds of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides are sprayed per acre of conventional, non-organic coffee. Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day making the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the world with an average of 3.2 cups of coffee consumed per person on a daily basis. Imagine how many people are ingesting pesticides and chemicals, which contribute to many health problems including cancer and miscarriages in pregnant women!
Buying certified organic ensures that your coffee is free of pesticides, solvents, chemicals and GMOs. This is the most effective way to protect against potential harm from non-organic coffee toxins. Organic coffee beans are full of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants!
Certified USDA
To qualify for a USDA “Organic” label, our coffee farms must be certified, and our coffee product must meet certain standards, including that:
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No synthesized pesticides and/or any prohibited chemical substance have been used for the past 3 years.
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Natural pest control and prevention methods must be used.
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Use sustainable crop rotation to prevent nutrient loss in soil.
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The coffee must pass inspections and lab testing before it is made available for commercial use in the U.S.
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No GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) coffee beans are used.
Shade Grown vs. Sun Grown Coffee
In its natural environment, coffee grows under the shade. Coffee that is grown in the shade is protected from harsh sun rays, and grows at a slower pace. Most coffee is produced in full-sun plantations, some of which, where prepared through deforestation.
Shade grown coffee naturally mulches its environment, lives twice as long as sun-grown varieties and depletes less of the soil’s resources. It benefits our environment by enriching the soil, removes carbon from the atmosphere, captures and retains rainfall, supports the ecosystem, and serves as an important habitat for wildlife, not to mention, cleaner air and water.
Sun-Grown Coffee
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Grows faster and ages quickly
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Requires more water, fertilizer, pesticides
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Supports less biodiversity
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Degrades ecosystems
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Results in chemical-full coffee
Shade-Grown Coffee
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Grows slower
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Requires less water, grows in natural habitat
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Supports greater biodiversity
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Sustains healthy ecosystems
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Allows farmers economic diversification
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Results in better tasting, healthy coffee
When you purchase shade grown coffee, you are supporting a sustainable product and helping to keep rainforests intact. According to lead author Jalene Sha, a biology professor at the University of Texas-Austin, shade-grown accounts for less than two percent of the global coffee market. So a whopping 98 percent of the world’s coffee comes from farmers growing berries under a hot tropical sun—from plants that need lots of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to thrive.
Shade grown coffee allows the true flavor of the coffee to come to the forefront, while the side effects of the acidity and caffeine are minimized, making for a better tasting, higher quality, more healthy coffee!
benefits of organic coffee
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Free of GMOs, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, chemicals & artificial additivies.
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Rich in fiber, full of vitamins, minerals, nutrients & antioxidants
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Supports your immune system & overall health, enhances mood, reduces headaches
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Sharpens mental focus, boosts metabolism and balances hormone levels
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Enhances proper brain function and protection from cell damage
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Guards against diseases such as type 2 diabetes, liver & colorectal cancer, Alzheimer's & Parkinsons
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Aids in conservation of birds, wildlife, vegetation & prevents soil erosion
The primary benefit of organically grown coffee is that, because it is not subjected to commercial fertilizer or insecticide, its beans would be free of chemical residue. For this reason, many declare that Organic Coffee has a fuller, richer flavor than non-organically grown coffee, but this is just a fraction of our stringent coffee evaluation process.
Aside from the taste of the coffee, growing coffee using Organic farming methods benefits the environment and the health of both the consumer and the farmer. The production of Organic Coffee uses absolutely zero chemical fertilizers when feeding the plants, and no chemical pesticides to keep insects at bay. We are fully aware that pesticides and other non-organic farming chemicals accumulate in human body fat, causing damage to the nervous and reproductive systems. While Organic Coffee may cost just a bit more, most would say the benefits overshadow the added cost.
So what is a few more dollars when weighed against the very
serious matter of YOUR
LONG-TERM HEALTH?