Coffee... Organic? Fair trade? Shade grown?

Who doesn't like a cup of amazing liquid caffeine? I know I do! Especially in the morning and maybe in the early afternoon (not too late of course, sleep hygiene matters too).  Last year, during some down time in the office, a co-worker and I began researching the best type of coffee to buy for our bodies and the environment.  What we discovered was a little startling because we both were healthy clean eaters and had no idea how important it was to buy organic, certified by Rainforest Alliance, and fair trade.

Coffee is traditionally grown in countries with less stringent regulations on chemicals and pesticides than the USA... Yikes! This makes coffee one of the most heavily treated crops with pesticides. So USDA organic matters big time when it comes to coffee. 

Also verified by Rainforest alliance matters! Why? Well if a coffee is verified by Rainforest Allaince, that means those coffee beans were grown in the shade of the canopy trees of the Rainforest, therefore protecting the habitats of migratory birds and monkeys. It also helps to prevent against erosion and protect the soil.  Another certification to consider is the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. 

Now one last certification is Fair Trade.

Coffee farmers can work and live in conditions that are no better than "sweatshops in the fields".  They do not make a liveable profit from there crop forcing them to live in the poverty cycle. Fair trade certified means that the farmer who grew your coffee beans you just bought are getting a fair wage that covers their production cost and allows them to make a profit.  That allows them access to health care, education, and nutritious food! How awesome is that! It matters where you spend your dollar. 

Now I just threw out a lot of certifications and information at you. It might seem overwhelming, I know it did to me.  I am working on compiling a list of coffee brands and what grocery stores carry the different types of coffee.  That will be coming in the next week or so.  

I buy Allegro Coffee and I find it at whole foods.  It is important to remember even within a brand not all coffee is going to be USDA organic, verified by the rainforest alliance, and fair trade.  Make sure to read your labels! The certifications are usually found on the front of the bag. Below are the images for the verifications.

Check out websites listed below for more information!!

www.fairtradehelps.org

www.globalexchange.org

www.ewg.org

www.rainforest-alliance.org