100% Organic Fair Trade Coffee Facts!

What is organic coffee?

Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have
a low impact on the environment.
Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility,
reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers,
and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party
certification organizations verify that organic farmers abide by
the law.

What does it mean to be certified?

In order for coffee to be certified and sold as organic in the
United States, it must be produced in accordance with U.S.
standards for organic production and certified by an agency
accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. requirements
for coffee production include farming without synthetic pesticides or
other prohibited substances for three years and a sustainable crop
rotation plan to prevent erosion, the depletion of soil nutrients,
and control for pests.

What is the size of the U.S. market?

Organic Trade Association data shows that coffee sales in the
United States amounted to approximately $110 million in 2006,
up 24 percent from the previous year. Other studies show the
figure could be much higher. A 2007 survey by Daniele
Giovannucci and the Costa Rica-based Sustainable Markets
Intelligence Center (CIMS) reported that approximately 65
million pounds of organic coffee were imported into the United States
in 2006 with aretail value of approximately $617 million. The authors
estimate the organic coffee sector represented 2.3 percent of the total
U.S. green coffee imports in 2006. The 33 percent annual average
growth ratefor the organic category documented by there searchers
between 2000 and 2007 dwarfs the estimated 1.5-2percent projected
annual growth rate of the conventional coffee industry.

Where is this coffee grown?

This coffee is grown in 40 countries including Bolivia, Burundi, Brazil,
Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,
India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico,
Nepal,Nicarauga, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Sri Lanka,
Thailand,Timore-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United
Republic ofTanzania, United States (Hawaii), Venezuela, Vietnam,
and Zambia.The leading producer countries are Peru, Ethiopia, and
Mexico.

What is the size of the world market?

Global sales reached 67,000 metric tons (or about 148 million
pounds)in 2006, a 56 percent increase from 2003 when
approximately 42,000MTwere exported. Forty-four percent
of the total was consumed inNorth America, of which approximately
85 percent was consumed inthe United States.

What products are in the marketplace?

These coffee products now on the market include decaffeinated,
caffeinated, flavored and instant coffees, ice cream and yogurt,
coffeesodas, hard candies, and chocolate covered beans.

What do the labels mean?

The USDA organic seal can appear on any coffee product that
containsat least 95 percent organic ingredients and that has been
certified asorganic by a certification agency accredited by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. The coffee may also carry a label saying
“100 percent organic” or “Organic.”

Fair Trade

Fair Trade certification focuses on labor and trade standards to
provide small-farmer co-operatives a guaranteed price above the
conventional market. Not all Fair Trade Certifiedä coffee is
necessarily organic.However, Fair Trade Certified TM does
require strict environmental stewardship such as prohibiting the use
of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the most hazardous
pesticides.
Seventy-eight percent of all Fair Trade Certified TM coffee
sold in the United States is certified organic. In the United States,
transactionsmust be audited by TransFair USA to use a Fair Trade
Certified TMlabel.Certified organic producers of Fair Trade coffee
receive at least$1.55/lb(as of June 1, 2008).

Bird Friendly®

Bird Friendly® can only be used by operators that meet inspection
and certification requirements of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
All certified Bird Friendly® coffee must also be certified organic.
Bird Friendly® certification requires that the coffee be shade-grown
witha wide variety of native shade trees and other shade-providing
species. No synthetic chemicals can be used in the processing of
Bird Friendly® coffee.

Article Source: Organic Trade Association

100% Organic Coffee,Fair Trade Coffee,Growing 100% Organic
By choosing Organic Coffee you are choosing the best
ingredients for yourself and your family.  By purchasing this
coffee you support the farmers who decide to grow coffee
using these methods, and help them repay their debt and
sustain economically.

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