The Other Side of Coffee

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by Jeff Ericson, owner Camano Island Coffee Roasters

Coffee is the second largest commodity in the world, and more than 150 million Americans drink it daily. With coffee being consumed in such large quantities, it is important to ensure your beans are organic, shade-grown, and fairly traded.

First, purchasing organic beans ensures that harmful pesticides are not being used in the soil or on the leaves of the coffee trees. We are excited to be working closely with our farmers to make sure their land remains pesticide-free for a number of years before producing certified organic coffee beans.

Second, shade-grown coffee protects rainforests, animals, and foliage around coffee farms. Shade-grown coffee cherries grow more slowly, allowing for rich flavors to fully develop in the cherries. The shade also protects the cherries from harmful UV rays, which can raise acidity levels in coffee beans.

Third, it is important to pay a fair price for coffee to help create a sustainable cycle for the coffee farmers and their families. Paying fair prices for coffee is a way of showing respect to the farmers, and helps to provide land grants, medical care, livestock and agricultural assistance. When coffee farmers are paid a fair price for their product, they can begin to save money, provide for their families, and eventually own land and rise above poverty. Coffee farmers are doing the difficult work, and all we have to do is pay a fair price.