Organic Peruvian Coffee

Why Organic Coffee?

Coffee is one of those foods that you really want to buy organically if you can. There are all sorts of things about the conventional coffee market that aren't good.

For instance, coffee is one of the most heavily chemically treated food products in the world. Synthetic, petroleum-based chemicals are commonly used as pesticides and herbicides around the coffee plants, and these chemicals leech into the groundwater and pollute the water for the people who live near them.

Another big problem with conventional coffee farming is that it encourages deforestation. Coffee traditionally grows in the shade, but that's not a very efficient use of space when you're trying to make a lot of money, so sun-resistant varieties of coffee plants have been developed. To make more sunny spots for coffee to grow, indigenous trees are cut down, destroying ecosystems and threatening wildlife.

Choosing organic Peruvian coffee, or organic coffee from anywhere else in the world, means you're supporting sustainable agriculture and farming methods that support and replenish the soil rather than poisoning it.

As with other organic products, organic coffee must be produced on land that has not been treated with chemicals for at least three years, it must have sufficient buffer space between it and any conventionally grown crops, and crop rotation and other tactics to keep the soil fertile must be used.

Finding Organic Peruvian Coffee

Organic coffee from Peru tends to be some of the most inexpensive organic coffee out there. That's good for people looking for a bargain, but might not be so great for quality or for keeping the rest of the world's good-doing coffee sellers in business. The quality can be good or not so good, so you might want to try a couple of brands before settling on a favorite.

There are many sources for organic Peruvian coffee these days, whether you are looking for a mail order source or want to buy at your local coffeehouse. It's likely a good-quality local shop will have a Peruvian organic coffee that you can purchase ground or in whole beans.

If your favorite coffee shop doesn't have such a selection, ask. If you don't have a favorite local coffeeshop, find one and make friends with the people who work there.

If local shopping is not an option, here are some online sources:

• Fair Trade Coffee
• Nectar of Life
• Moore Coffee
• Gevalia
• Surf City Coffee
• Dean's Beans

Organic Coffee Lingo

In addition to just having organic coffee, there are some other catchphrases you might see on a bag of coffee you're considering for purchase.

Fair trade means that the farmers who grow the coffee are guaranteed to receive a certain price for their beans. The majority of organic coffee is fair trade, but not all fair trade coffee is organic, so check the label. Companies that claim their coffee is fair trade must be certified to use the Fair Trade Label.

Another big claim you'll see is that the coffee was shade grown. As mentioned earlier, a lot of conventionally grown coffee beans are no longer grown in the shade, meaning that trees had to be cut down in order to produce the coffee.

Shade-grown coffee is just another assurance that the coffee is being grown in harmony with nature and the way it was meant to be produced. There is no certification for shade-grown coffee.

Finally, bird friendly coffee is certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. It must be organic and shade grown, with a variety of native trees used for cover.

All of these distinctions might not matter to you, or you may care a great deal. Either way, it is important to be an informed consumer and know what the lingo means before you buy.