http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1132/environmental-impact-of-sun-cultivated-coffee/ Environmental Impact of Sun Cultivated Coffee Traditional coffee farms grow coffee in the shade. The plants are interspersed under a forest canopy, typically in a cloudy mountain habitat. There is no need for synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides or fungicides in such a sustainable habitat. The result is organic shade grown coffee whether it is certified or not. But, the increased demand for coffee has resulted in the production of sun cultivated coffee. New strains have been developed that are more sun tolerant. Coffee plants are spaced very close together to increase production. But, the bunching of a lot of coffee plants together increases the incidence of insect and fungal infestations like coffee leaf rust. The environmental impact of sun cultivated coffee therefore includes deforestation and the environmental impact of sun cultivated coffee includes pollution of the soil and water table with harmful chemicals. You can drink healthy organic coffee and help the world avoid the environmental impact of sun cultivated coffee or go ahead and ignore the situation. If you want to do the right thing, what is the next step? The Power of the Consumer If no one buys sun cultivated coffee they will quit producing it. And if people insist on certified organic coffee they will produce more and thereby reduce the environmental impact of sun cultivated coffee. What are the certifications to look for? Look for the USDA, UTZ or Rainforest Alliance seals when you buy coffee. USDA Certified When coffee is certified organic by the USDA we know that sustainable agricultural practices were used and that the product is in all likelihood not sun cultivated. It is free of many of the pesticide, herbicide, and synthetic fertilizer residues that can be found coffee grown in crowded fields in direct sun.

1. Environmental Impact of
Sun Cultivated Coffee
And why you really want to buy certified organic coffee!

2. Traditional coffee farms grow coffee in
the shade.

3. The plants are interspersed under a
forest canopy, typically in a cloudy
mountain habitat.

4. There is no need for synthetic
fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides or
fungicides in such a sustainable
habitat.

5. The result is organic shade grown
coffee whether it is certified or not.

6. But, the increased demand for coffee
has resulted in the production of sun
cultivated coffee.

7. New strains have been developed that
are more sun tolerant.

8. Coffee plants are spaced very close
together to increase production.

9. But, the bunching of a lot of coffee
plants together increases the incidence
of insect and fungal infestations like
coffee leaf rust.

10. The environmental impact of sun
cultivated coffee therefore includes
deforestation and the environmental
impact of sun cultivated coffee includes
pollution of the soil and water table with
harmful chemicals.

11. You can drink healthy organic coffee
and help the world avoid the
environmental impact of sun cultivated
coffee or go ahead and ignore the
situation.

12. If you want to do the right thing, what is
the next step?

13. The Power of the
Consumer

14. If no one buys sun cultivated coffee
they will quit producing it.

15. And if people insist on certified organic
coffee they will produce more and
thereby reduce the environmental
impact of sun cultivated coffee.

16. What are the certifications to look for?
Look for the USDA, UTZ or Rainforest
Alliance seals when you buy coffee.

17. USDA Certified

18. When coffee is certified organic by the
USDA we know that sustainable
agricultural practices were used and
that the product is in all likelihood not
sun cultivated.

19. It is free of many of the pesticide,
herbicide, and synthetic fertilizer
residues that can be found coffee
grown in crowded fields in direct sun.

20. UTZ Certified

21. The UTZ label indicates that the coffee
comes from a coffee farm that employs
sustainable agricultural practices, good
environmental practices and efficient
farm management. According to the
UTZ web site:

22. UTZ Certified stands for sustainable farming and
better opportunities for farmers, their families and
our planet. The UTZ program enables farmers to
learn better farming methods, improve working
conditions and take better care of their children
and the environment. Through the UTZ-program
farmers grow better crops, generate more income
and create better opportunities while safeguarding
the environment and securing the earth’s natural
resources.

23. Rainforest Alliance
Certified Coffee

24. The Rainforest Alliance is an NGA that
works to preserve biodiversity.

25. It does so for agricultural products by
convincing people to buy
environmentally friendly coffees and
other produce.

26. Rainforest Alliance certified indicates
good land use practices.

27. 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.

28. Not Certified But
Environmentally
Friendly

29. There are a lot of small coffee farmers
who use strictly organic sustainable
practices in growing, harvesting,
processing and storing their coffee.

30. The problem is that they do not make
enough money to pay for certification.

31. One of our goals at Buy Organic Coffee
is to find buyers for these folks who
avoid the environmental impact of sun
cultivated coffee.

32. If you are interested in organic coffee in
small or large quantities from such
growers contact us at Buy Organic
Coffee.