http://buyorganiccoffee.org/344/organic-coffee-certification/ Organic Coffee Certification Just what is organic coffee certification and how does organic coffee certification insure the bona fid cup of organic coffee? Organic coffee differs from regular coffee in several aspects. The soil in which organic coffee is grown must have been verified as free from prohibited substances for at least three years. In addition there must be distinct boundaries between land on which organic coffee is grown and land where pesticides, herbicides, and prohibited chemical fertilizers are used. This guarantees that drift of substances sprayed or otherwise applied on adjacent land will not contaminate the organic plot of land. Organic coffee certification includes the adherence to a specific and verifiable plan for all practices and procedures from planting to crop maintenance, to harvest, de-husking, bagging, transport, roasting, packaging, and final transport. Along the way procedures must be in place at every step to insure that there is no contamination of the healthy organic coffee produced in pristine soil with regular coffee produced on soil exposed to herbicides, pesticides, and organic fertilizers. Organic coffee certification guarantees that the consumer is drinking organic coffee, coffee uncontaminated by unwanted substances. Organic coffee certification also drives up the cost of a cup of coffee. The problem for a small coffee grower is that some organic practices can be more costly than conventional practices. For example, the labor cost of composting may be more than the cost of buying conventional, albeit prohibited, fertilizers. If the coffee farmer cannot obtain a sufficiently high price for his crop his is unable to continue the sustainable farming practices necessary to produce organic coffee. Thus the ability of the consumer to obtain organic coffee antioxidants and other healthy ingredients depends upon the willingness of the consumer to pay for the higher quality coffee available through organic growing practices and organic coffee certification. Sustainable practices commonly include crop rotation. However, many crops are not amenable to planting on the steep hillsides commonly used to grow coffee. Thus it is common to plant ground cover between rows of coffee also to plant trees like plantain to secure the soil and prevent erosion. Organic coffee certification requires that the coffee planter use such practices to preserve and reconstitute the soil. Because it is typically not possible to plant other crops in rotation with coffee, there is the problem of soil depletion. Thus organic coffee certification allows that certain commercial fertilizers may be used. However, these fertilizers must come from an approved list. Then they must be used as specified. Certification usually requires that the planter follow a written plan and document procedures and results along the way.

1. Sponsored by: http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

2. Just what is organic coffee
certification and how does
organic coffee certification
insure the bona fid cup of
organic coffee?
Organic coffee differs from
regular coffee in several aspects.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

3. The soil in which organic coffee
is grown must have been
verified as free from prohibited
substances for at least three
years.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

4. In addition there must be
distinct boundaries between
land on which organic coffee is
grown and land where
pesticides, herbicides, and
prohibited chemical fertilizers
are used.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

5. This guarantees that drift of
substances sprayed or otherwise
applied on adjacent land will
not contaminate the organic
plot of land.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

6. Organic coffee certification
includes the adherence to a
specific and verifiable plan for
all practices and procedures
from planting to crop
maintenance, to harvest, de-
husking, bagging, transport, roa
sting, packaging, and final
transport.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

7. Along the way procedures must
be in place at every step to
insure that there is no
contamination of the healthy
organic coffee produced in
pristine soil with regular coffee
produced on soil exposed to
herbicides, pesticides, and
organic fertilizers.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

8. Organic coffee certification
guarantees that the consumer is
drinking organic coffee, coffee
uncontaminated by unwanted
substances.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

9. Organic coffee certification also
drives up the cost of a cup of
coffee. The problem for a small
coffee grower is that some
organic practices can be more
costly than conventional
practices.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

10. For example, the labor cost of
composting may be more than the cost
of buying conventional, albeit
prohibited, fertilizers.
If the coffee farmer cannot obtain a
sufficiently high price for his crop his is
unable to continue the sustainable
farming practices necessary to produce
organic coffee.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

11. Thus the ability of the consumer
to obtain organic coffee
antioxidants and other healthy
ingredients depends upon the
willingness of the consumer to
pay for the higher quality coffee
available through organic
growing practices and organic
coffee certification.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

12. Sustainable practices commonly
include crop rotation.
However, many crops are not
amenable to planting on the
steep hillsides commonly used
to grow coffee.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

13. Thus it is common to plant
ground cover between rows of
coffee also to plant trees like
plantain to secure the soil and
prevent erosion.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

14. Organic coffee certification
requires that the coffee planter
use such practices to preserve
and reconstitute the soil.
Because it is typically not
possible to plant other crops in
rotation with coffee, there is the
problem of soil depletion.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

15. Thus organic coffee certification
allows that certain commercial
fertilizers may be used.
However, these fertilizers must
come from an approved list.
Then they must be used as
specified.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

16. Certification usually requires
that the planter follow a written
plan and document procedures
and results along the way.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

17. Pest control for organic coffee
growing is commonly through
the introduction of predators
and parasites that are natural
enemies of the pests that attack
coffee plants.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

18. As with fertilizers there are non-
synthetic substances that may
be allowed for pest control but
they must come from an
approved list and their use must
be documented.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

19. In end of the production chain
handling must be according to
approved standards or the
grower loses his organic coffee
certification.
This includes having containers
and machinery that is not
contaminated.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/

20. When all is said and done more
organic coffee can lead to less
diabetes, a reduced risk of colon
cancer, and a reduction in
prostate cancer risk, all with
fewer impurities than with
regular coffee.
http://BuyOrganicCoffee.org/