How Organic Coffee is Certified | Disadvantages of Certified Organic Coffee | How Much Does a Bag of Organic Coffee Beans Cost

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Organic Coffee Bean Certification

In addition to obtaining international fair trade certification, the cooperative uses organic farming methods with the goal of protecting local water source ecosystems. This sustainable farming method has also obtained organic certifications from the United States, European Union, and Japan. The ability to obtain certification proves that this product complies with the principles and regulations of relevant trademarks. Don't think this is easy - to obtain organic certification, especially European Union certification, one must pass a series of strict monitoring and regulations.

European Union Certification Requirements

Regarding EU certification, having this trademark (as shown in the image) represents the following points:

• At least 95% of the agricultural materials in this product are organic
• Production is strictly monitored by law, with strict restrictions on the use of antibiotics, chemical pesticides, and fertilizers in the process
• Organic farming strictly restricts food additives, processing aids, and other additions
• The product contains less than 0.9% genetically modified organisms

What do these points truly represent? As ordinary people, what impact or changes does choosing organic coffee beans bring to our lives? In fact, the positive impact on personal health alone is worth our support for organic coffee. Coffee is a plant, which everyone should know, and crops produced under strict regulatory monitoring are naturally more trustworthy with zero pollution and natural harmlessness. With fewer artificial additives, the original flavor of coffee comes through more purely, and damage to the body can also be reduced.

In addition to positive impacts on personal health, the effects on the natural environment, ecology, and people's care are also more good than bad. The reason people in European and American regions so appreciate and support organic products is not only because it's healthier, but also because it expresses care for our environment. Like the Kopepi Ketiara coffee farmers' cooperative, they produce in a sustainable manner, respecting nature and the environment in the process, which allows the cooperative to continue developing while protecting the environment. The ability to develop sustainably also means that the cooperative's female members can have more development opportunities, and the cooperative can continue to bring high-quality coffee. This positive cycle is beneficial to the entire ecology without any harm.

Criticisms of Organic Certification System

The most criticized aspects of the organic certification system are probably the following two items:

(1) Many coffees labeled "organic certified" actually do not meet regulations. For example, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors usually only visit coffee plantations for one day per year, and as long as no one reports violations, they generally don't conduct soil tests or tissue tests. As for the days beyond inspections, only the coffee farmers themselves know whether they have violated regulations.

(2) Certification fees are too high. Taking Costa Rica as an example, for a 3-4 hectare coffee plantation, the annual certification fee costs $700, and this is just for Costa Rica's domestic certification; if additionally applying for USDA certification, the cost is even higher. Therefore, some poor small-scale coffee farmers whose cultivation methods clearly comply with all "organic" regulations cannot obtain certification because they cannot afford the annual fees; conversely, there are also plantations that have obtained certification but are actually not名副其实 (not worthy of the name).

Besides these two most criticized points above, there are of course some other shortcomings, such as the frequent occurrence of inspectors accepting bribes and relaxing inspection standards, which we won't discuss further here.

The Future of Organic Coffee

Although promoting organic coffee beans is full of difficulties, in the long run, it is still a path that must be taken. Especially in recent years, as global warming has accelerated, coffee has also been greatly impacted, and conditions in many areas originally suitable for coffee cultivation have begun to deteriorate. Experts point out that organic agriculture naturally has a mitigating effect on warming phenomena, and organic coffee cultivation, especially the planting of shade trees, is one of the good countermeasures to slow down global warming. I sincerely hope there comes a day when all coffee is organic coffee, so at least it won't be like today, when I face the choice between "good flavor" and "organic" and can only choose one, often making a decision while feeling a trace of guilt in my heart.

Notes

[Note 1] In 1953, American scientist Norman Borlaug bred "miracle wheat" in Mexico, with production five times that of traditional wheat varieties, making Mexico and India change from wheat importers to exporters (Borlaug thus won the 1970 Nobel Prize); in 1968, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) bred "miracle rice" in the Philippines, with production increased by at least 2.5 times.

[Note 2] Shade trees have many benefits for coffee trees, such as:

• Blocking excess sunlight
• Protecting soil and water sources
• The cool environment under shade trees can reduce pest damage
• Minerals from deep in the soil can be brought to the surface through dead branches and fallen leaves, increasing topsoil fertility
• Providing habitat for birds and bats, controlling some pest populations
• Can lower the temperature around coffee fruits, thus slowing fruit maturation time and developing more flavor

[Note 3] Artificially made herbicides and pesticides have never been cheap. For a recent example: from 2007 to 2008, the price increases of such products in many regions worldwide exceeded double.

[Note 4] There are exceptions. For example, Hawaii's famous coffee producing region, Kona, because there are naturally formed cloud layers that block appropriate amounts of sunlight every day, is one of the few growing areas that does not need shade trees.

About FrontStreet Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

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