|
|
|
| |
| By Roastmaster on 8/10/2009 |
Portola Coffee News
|
As a coffee roaster who exclusively sources certified coffees such as Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Bird Friendly, I know how confusing the certifications can be. Some of the information available can often have the opposite effect of actually confusing you more than making sense of the situation. One of the least talked about, and the one I find people know the least about, is the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) coffee certification called, Bird Friendly. So, I would like to take a brief moment to shed some light on this certification and why it is important to coffee. Bird Friendly in many ways is a “shade grown” certification on steroids! A coffee can be labeled shade grown without being organic. However, a Bird Friendly certified coffee  MUST be certified organic. From a selfish perspective, shade does great things to the flavor of coffee. A shade canopy extends the maturation period of the coffee cherry causing it to ripen slower on the shrub, which has a positive effect on the flavors and their intensity. Generally speaking, they impart a sweeter cup profile as the pulp’s natural sugar content is higher. From an ecological perspective, shade grown coffee promotes biodiversity. It obviously creates a habitat for a larger number of bird species, but unless you are a bird watcher, the real benefit is the impact of these birds on the environment in and around the coffee shrubs. Insects can wreak havoc on a crop and often necessitate the use of chemical pesticides. However, if you have 150 different bird species imbedded in your crop, rather than 20 for instance, you have many more hungry mouths with lots of different culinary preferences for insects. In more direct terms, more insects – and a larger variety of insect species – are consumed. This is an important benefit since conventional coffee is the second most chemically treated crop in the world next to tobacco. This shade also creates a habitat for many other beneficial mammals, reptiles, and non-destructive insects, etc. In terms of eliminating the need for fertilizers and herbicides, shade trees impart nutrients in the soil, help to retain moisture, and prevent erosion and weed growth.
So, what is the difference between shade grown and “Bird Friendly?” We already covered one – all Bird Friendly certified coffee is also certified Organic. Secondly, Bird Friendly coffee farms must meet very stringent guidelines that are subject to verification by third party, independent inspectors. This is much more comprehensive and demanding than a roaster or importer travelling to source and saying, “yeah…there are shade trees here.” I suggest taking a quick peek at this Quick Reference chart on the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center’s website to appreciate what I am referring to:
It is the criteria for the Bird Friendly certification and it is no joke. And that’s not all…for every pound purchased that bears the Bird Friendly certification, 25 cents goes to support SMBC research and conservation programs.
Our Bird Friendly certified El Salvador Santa Teresa Pacamara Microlot is an exceptional coffee grown on the Batres family farm in El Salvador where coffee has been carefully grown since 1860. Pick up a bag and discover for yourself the piquant flavor wonders of a Bird Friendly certified coffee
| | |
|
|