We came across an article today that made us a little sad. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of organic coffee are sitting in warehouses in Latin America, waiting silently and no one is coming. Growers all over Latin America are taking losses in sales because they can’t fetch the higher price needed to cover the costs of natural pesticide use and smaller yields from non-chemical fertilizers, and they’re ultimately switching back to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Approximately 10% of organic growers have defected back to regular coffee growing, and 75% of the worlds organic coffee is coming from Latin America – Mexico to Costa Rica.
On the other side of the coin, Starbucks says they were only able to purchase organic beans about 3% of the time last year. And in response to questions as to why this was the case, Starbucks stated: “Our purchases of certified organic coffee are limited due to the limited quantities available worldwide and the constraints of the organic certification system for farmers.” These constraints of organic farming include farmers absorbing the cost of organic farming for a minimum of three years before becoming certified, since agencies determined the soil must remain pesticide free for 3 years. Further, organic farms trap more carbon than their chemically managed counterparts and are thus better for the environment.
We need to decide if a healthier, safer product is worth the increased cost. And if it is, we should be demonstrating our commitment to a responsible product with our purchases, and urging organizations like Starbucks to do the same.
-Flora
Organic Coffee Getting Scarce?
March 9, 2010 by coffeeandcontroversy
You ask near the end if a healthier, safer product is “worth it”. It’s a valid question, and I think it comes down to the cost/benefit.
I know organic coffee carries the perception of being healthier and safer by virtue of the word “organic” alone, but how much safer? How much healthier? How unsafe/unhealthy is ordinary coffee by comparison?
If the answer to these questions is that organic coffee is safer/healthier by only the smallest fraction of a difference, and the cost represents a difference if between 5-20%, the choice to me is obvious. No need for me to pay a buck or two more for only a miniscule difference that in the long run won’t amount to much of anything, other than money saved or money spent foolishly and blindly.
I really am interested in knowing what the safety/health benefits and diffrences are if you can share them.
In theory, I would agree with Just “J.” But, in this case, I must disagree. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers cause cancer and probably other “not-yet defined” health issues. Not using such sorts of chemicals is worth so much more than money – even the most miniscule amounts are worth avoiding. The impact on us that may not even manifest for another generation or two, is worth avoiding. It comes down to ethics for the health and welfare of ourselves, the planet and the next generation. It is always the best choice to opt for the more healthful choice regardless of the “percentages” involved.
While it’s true, in the statement that organic farms trap more carbon than their chemically tended counterparts, that the term “more” is vague and non-specific, the fact that the things at stake have a higher value than money makes the comparison a hard one to calculate. In the case of carbon and other greenhouse gases, there may come a time when cash in it’s current form doesn’t have the value it has today. But I will always need air. I will always want to be cancer-free, as Pastry Mama mentions. So while I haven’t given you many hard numbers, the choice is still clear in my mind. Actively avoid carcinogenic chemicals and environmentally unfriendly practices. If I can possibly buy organic, I do.
-Flora
The theory of avoiding chemical pesticides at all costs seems to be a sound one, at least on the surface.
However in practice, it becomes an entirely different matter. And again, there is the cost factor. Make no mistake, I’m not saying that trading health for cost is a viable alternative either.
What I am most interested in is the quantifiable difference in safety/health between organic and ordinary coffee.
I mean, are there even any of the chemicals and pesticides present once it reaches your cup? And is it an appreciable amount that can be damaging to your system (even if it’s over a 30 year term), or is it something so miniscule amount that your system wouldn’t even recognize it’s there, much less react to it?
If I’m spending $20 for a pound of organic coffee vs. $10 for ordinary coffee, I need to know that I’m not just throwing my money away on the premise that pesticides are bad, when there are no traces present in the end product, and it manifests no difference to it’s ordinary counterpart.
Well to respond to the question posed, I would guess we’re drinking more chemicals in a cup of regular coffee than we would care to know since a plant will pull from the ground and the fruit (in this case, a bean)will store up in it’s juicy flesh, water, nutrients and chemicals alike. And that is in the bean when we grind it up and it’s steeped out of the bean and into our morning coffee every day – boiling water is very efficient for washing the chemicals out of the bean. But their still in the water. And that’s what we’re drinking.
Second, we need to consider what we’re asking for on a larger scale. Because even if you think some process takes the pesticides out of the bean (maybe while roasting), there’s no process taking it out of our fresh salad ingredients for instance. So organic growing in this particular area, is on the decline. If this is the case of organic growing in all areas of agriculture, I do think we’re taking a serious step backward.
I myself am an avid coffee drinker. Prior to reading this I hadn’t given much thought to the organic vs regular coffee issue. What I focus on is purchasing fair trade coffee. I don’t mind paying a little more for coffee knowing that I am supporting a movement that works toward creating sustainability and improved conditions in third-world countries. The coffee shop I buy my beans from (local) has a very good selection of organic and fair trade beans. And they are always by one get one half off.
I understand where J is coming from. The trade for organic is a higher price. I am always looking for a good deal and recommend Sunflower Market for SLC. They have very well priced organic fruits an vegtables. I haven’t checked out their coffee. I find their produce prices rival those of local supermarket chains.
Linds, we’re SO glad you brought up Fair Trade. Fair trade is also a very worthy cause. The issue of sustainability is huge in our world today with more and more limited resources and a growing population. Jack Mormon Coffee in SLC is a GREAT place to buy fresh roasted fair trade and organic beans by the pound if you haven’t been there before. 🙂
-Flora
Linds can you please tell us where you get your coffee so our Salt Lake readers can check it out?
-Merriweather