| Coffee cultivation does have an impact on the | | | | fully so that they are of a higher quality when they are |
| environment, which is why it pays to be a savvy | | | | picked. |
| coffee consumer. You may have seen the Bird | | | | Shade grown coffee provides yet another benefit |
| Friendly label on your coffee, but what exactly does it | | | | because it preserves the habitat of native birds in the |
| mean? | | | | coffee producing country. This protects the |
| Bird Friendly Coffee is the strictest standard of shade | | | | ecosystem of the birds, and it also works as a natural |
| grown coffee, requiring the coffee to be grown with | | | | pesticide because the birds can eat harmful insects off |
| shade grown and organic standards. This criteria was | | | | of the coffee plants to help them grow. This is |
| put in place by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center | | | | something that encourages biodiversity through |
| to protect migratory songbirds in 1997. Not only are | | | | cultivating shade trees and other vegetation within a |
| these birds beautiful to enjoy, but they also contribute | | | | coffee plantation. This prevents the use of pesticides, |
| to the ecosystem by dispersing seed and pollinating | | | | and it creates a healthy environment for coffee |
| flowers. 95% of all Bird Friendly Coffee is farmed in | | | | farmers and those in the community. One of the main |
| South America and Central America, and the rest is | | | | reasons that this is so useful to many coffee growing |
| cultivated in Africa. Currently, these farms are | | | | communities is because it will protect the water source |
| producing over 6 million pounds of coffee in their | | | | from pesticide contamination. |
| harvests. | | | | Bird Friendly Coffee works to control pollution in both |
| Peru is the number one country to produce Bird | | | | wet and dry methods of coffee processing, and it also |
| Friendly Coffee, leading at 39%. The reason that this | | | | encourages the use of soil preservation through |
| type of coffee production is so important is because | | | | agronomic techniques, like planting the coffee trees on |
| many coffee farmers use billions of pounds of | | | | hills with the correct slope for the harvest. This type of |
| pesticides for their agricultural coffee crops. In fact, | | | | coffee cultivation is also important because it is Fair |
| 20% of these pesticides are used currently in the | | | | Trade, which means that the wages are guaranteed |
| United States! This affects the environment, as well as | | | | to all of the coffee farmers. This not only protects the |
| migratory birds that make their homes in forests in | | | | farmer, but it ensures a premium crop since the farmer |
| coffee producing areas. The reason that Bird Friendly | | | | can invest in quality standards due to his guaranteed |
| Coffee is important is because it is shade grown. This | | | | wage. |
| is a method of coffee production where the coffee | | | | Take the time to look for Bird Friendly Coffee that has |
| trees are shaded by larger trees so that they can | | | | a certified label so that you can know that you are |
| grow more slowly. This is a very important component | | | | protecting the environment and yourself when you |
| because it allows the coffee flavors to develop more | | | | drink a cup of Joe! |