Canada now has its own certified organic standards and seal.
Organic coffee
What does “certified organic” mean when it comes to coffee? What chemicals are allowed?
Organic coffee from Kenya accounts for less than 1% of exports. Here’s a review of one of the first widely available offerings, from a surprising source.
The North American Organic Coffee Industry Report 2010 by Daniele Giovannucci shows that the North American organic coffee market topped $1.4 billion dollars in 2009. The report is available from the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and was announced at an…
Critics often argue that a major barrier to farmers producing organic coffee is that yields often decrease dramatically, preventing profit. How much yield is lost under organic coffee farming methods, and what causes it?
At least 10% of farmers in northern Latin America have returned to using pesticides because consumers are unwilling to pay more for organic coffee.
In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to ban any residue of the pesticide carbofuran on food. The rule becomes effective December 31, 2009. Carbofuran (sold under the name Furadan) causes neurological damage in humans, is…
Is incorporating shade criteria into organic certification standards a good thing?
A recent article notes that more producers in central Kenya are turning to organic coffee in order to take advantage of price premiums. This is welcome news, as over the last 15 years or so, Kenya has been one of…
Last week I posted about the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture ruling which will require every farm in a cooperative to be inspected annually in order to receive organic certification. It was feared this would make organic certification too expensive…
An article in Salon outlines a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture ruling which will require every farm in a cooperative to be inspected annually in order to receive organic certification. Previously, about 20% of the farms were inspected annually. The…
Book: Organic Coffee: Sustainable Development by Mayan Farmers by Maria Elena Martinez-Torres. This book is based on a PhD dissertation, but has been skillfully adapted and is very readable while still preserving the excellent information including tables, charts, and references….
Last month, a number of coffee bloggers, including C&C, received an offer from a public relations firm offering samples of Millstone Coffee Company’s organic line. Millstone is a coffee brand of the global conglomerate Procter & Gamble. There are five…
I’m sure once you examine the effects of the pesticides that are commonly used on coffee, you will agree that the workers, the environment, and the folks downstream are all better off if coffee is grown without pesticides. Careful cultivation…
Information on the common pesticides used on coffee.
