Did you know that coffee is one of the most popular traded commodities in existence? As the world becomes more health conscious and aware of environmental impacts growers may have, organic coffee is fast making up more of the market share.

There is a story that says coffee was discovered in Ethiopia by a herdsman that observed his goats becoming extremely energetic after eating the berries off of a coffee plant. It didn't take long for coffee to spread across the world as one of the most popular and indeed for many people the most essential beverages to ever exist.

Today our food production is heavily regulated. We are seeing the slow decline of many toxic compounds used in growing practices but most growers are resistant to change. We now realize the environmental effects that pesticides, herbicides, and even fertilizers have on the watershed and ecosystems. For this reason organic coffee farming is becoming more common.

The organic coffee companies today have to gain certification by following the guidelines of the Organic Food Production Act of the early 90s. This certification process ensures that growers don't use toxins while growing though rigorous testing procedures.

Organic Coffee Fields Must Gain Certification

The field in which certified organic coffee is grown must meet high standards as well. It must be shown to have been free of any contaminants or chemicals for at least three years prior to certification. This protects the consumer from past environmental effects that might influence the safety of current coffee crops.

Consumers will notice right away that organic coffee costs a bit more than non organic coffee. This is because the certification process takes time and money to complete. Farmers have to use new growing methods and convert their old land to chemical free land. This can take years and sometimes certification must be attempted repeatedly until it is finally granted.

To grow coffee without using industrial fertilizers, the crops are often planted in the shade. This protects delicate soil nutrients from being eradicated by the sun's UV radiation. Creating shade can also add to farming cost.

Not only do consumers appreciate the health benefits of organically grown coffee but also many connoisseurs will tell you that organic coffee has a superior taste. It is said that the chemicals used in the growing process of regular coffee has a negative impact on flavor. If you haven't tried organically grown coffee then you are missing out!