Do Organic Coffee Beans Taste Better?

By Bart Forcey

More and more consumers are realizing the need to evolve with the times to get green smart. Growing organic produce is the ultimate starting point for such environmentally friendly projects, thus the increase in the popularity of organic beverages.

The largest producers of organic coffee beans are located at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro on the African continent. Coffee trees grow abundantly under a tent formed by tall growing banana trees. This method of mixed planting is used to shield the coffee trees from harsh weather conditions while allowing the necessary amount of sunlight and rain to penetrate. The coffee trees are mulched and composted by mother nature via falling leaves from the coffee tree itself as well as that of the banana trees. Natural mulching and compost means natural moisture retention and high soil quality. For the organically certified farmers to comply with prescribed standards only natural, organic-based pesticides may be used.

The popularity of the coffee bean is astonishing as it is ranked second in terms of world trade with oil at the number one spot. These small green seeds have a retail market of an estimated Seventy Billion US Dollars. In the past, pricing of beans where haunted by significant drops and rises caused by super sensitivity to volatile conditions in the market. The impact of world recessions on bean prices have been eliminated by the fixing of minimum prices.

The ripe berries are plucked from the trees and soaked in water. Left over pulp is stripped off so that only the bean is visible. The beans are then left to try in the sun. The whole process of picking, soaking and drying is undertaken with great care as one coffee tree produces only an estimated 2.20 lbs beans per year. Once the drying cycle is complete the beans are sacked and weighed. Special areas are allocated where organic products are kept in prescribed conditions ensuring that after auctioning and shipping that the end user will get the best the farmer has to offer in accordance with the high standards enforced.

A disadvantage to consumers is often the inaccessibility of organic products. Organic foods are generally associated with high pricing in relation to our local and conventional produce due to farmers' expenses related to start-up funding, labor requirements, smaller outputs and land requirements.

Communities gain major economic advantages from organic coffee bean farming projects as they are introduced to the international marketplace. The farmers individually also enjoy recognition for their hard labor and efforts in their attempt to supply top quality produce while complying with strenuous international quality control guidelines laid down by independent organic organizations, Fair Trade and KNCU.

Farmers also get the chance to play in the field of the global markets. Growers of organic coffee beans get more of the jobs that are created for these primarily rural communities in secluded areas of the world. This assists in building a hopeful and bright future for themselves, their families and nation. - 31875

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