Shade Grown Coffee Frequently Asked Questions
What is shade-grown coffee?
The term "shade-grown" can refer to a number of different farming
practices that use shade trees (see "What is the shade spectrum or
shade gradient?" below). The term generally describes coffee that is
grown under a canopy of diverse species of shade trees, often on small
farms using traditional techniques. Shade-grown coffee, in contrast to
sun-grown or "technified" coffee, provides food and shelter for
songbirds, as well as other animals and plants. The use of shade trees
provides natural mulch, which reduces the need for chemical
fertilizers. Up to 40 species of trees can be found on traditionally
managed shade coffee plantations; these trees protect the coffee plants
that grow beneath them from rain and sun, help maintain soil quality,
reduce the need for weeding, and aid in pest control. Organic matter
from the shade trees reduces erosion, contributes nutrients to the
soil, and prevents metal toxicities.
Why should I buy shade-grown coffee?
By purchasing coffee that is grown in the shade, consumers can help
keep shade coffee economically viable for farmers while preserving
increasingly scarce habitat for wildlife such as neotropical migratory
birds.
What is the difference between shade coffee and sun coffee?
The original varieties of coffee brought to the New World centuries ago
are relatively intolerant of direct sunlight, and require the filtering
effect of shade trees to protect the leaves from burning.
In the last 25 years, however, new sun tolerant coffees have been
created and farmers have been encouraged by USAID and other
international development agencies to convert their growing practices.
While sun coffee produces substantially increased yields, it requires
additions of chemical fertilizers, and a range of insecticides,
herbicides and fungicides. In addition, sun coffee plantations cause
increased erosion and toxic run-off.
More Info! What is the difference between Arabica and Robusta?
From the coffee drinker's point of view, there are two major species of
coffee plant: Coffea Arabica and Coffea canephora var. Robusta. Arabica
has about two-thirds of the world market, and it is generally
considered to produce better quality, more flavorful results. Robusta
holds the remaining third of the world market, and its caffeine content
is about twice that of arabica. Considered inferior-tasting, robusta is
often used for instant coffee and in supermarket-grade blends. Generic
supermarket coffee is typically a blend of good arabica, medium quality
arabica, and robusta. The instant coffee segment is comprised primarily
of processed robusta and lower quality arabica.
What is the shade spectrum or shade gradient?
The shade vs. sun distinction is certainly not black and white. Mexican
coffee researchers and technicians have devised a five-category
continuum management spectrum for coffee, running through a spectrum of
shade and cover:
- Rustic (rusticano): the least intensified (and
increasingly rare) practice; coffee shrubs are planted in the existing
forest with little alteration of native vegetation; also the least
expensive practice, typically used by small family-owned farms that
produce a modest crop of coffee.
- Traditional Polyculture (policultura tradicional):
more managed than rustic coffee, involving deliberate integration of
beneficial plants (fruits, vegetables, nuts, medicinal plants, etc.),
and resulting in greater species diversity than commercial polyculture
(below); the crop diversification helps farmers in years when coffee
prices are depressed; in many traditional indigenous systems there is
no distinction between wild and domesticated plants and some plants are
weeded, tolerated, or encouraged depending on household needs and the
season.
- Commercial Polyculture (policultura comercial):
similar to traditional polyculture, but some shade is removed to make
room for more coffee shrubs; yields are higher, but some agrochemical
inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) are usually needed; generally planted
with a distinct backbone species, but more diverse than specialized
shade (below).
- Reduced or Specialized Shade (sombra especializada):
uses a single, pruned canopy species to provide shade, typically from
the genera Inga, Erythrina, Gliricidia, or Grevillea; coffee shrubs are
planted more densely, and the farm has a manicured look; since the
overstory consists of one or two species, its vertical structural
diversity is reduced.
- Full-Sun or Unshaded Monoculture (monocultura sin sombre):
does away with the canopy completely; the unshaded intensively-managed
fields are highly productive if given the requisite agrochemical
inputs; farms such as these have one objective: producing coffee for
market.
The following diagram shows the five different coffee growing systems
described in the text. Notice the vegetational complexity, height of
arboreal strata, and variety of components in the systems (from Toledo
and Moguel 1997).
How does buying shade coffee help migratory birds?
Shade coffee is grown in a forest-like setting. The structure of a
shade coffee forest mimics a native forest, with several vertical
levels of growth and a wide variety of plants and insects for the birds
to eat. In fact, shade trees found on traditional coffee farms provide
habitat for a surprisingly rich diversity of species, especially
migratory birds. One study conducted in Mexico found over 140 species
of birds in the forests of shade coffee farms while sun-coffee farms
contained only 5-6 species.
As rainforests disappear, shade coffee farms offer one of the last
places for birds to feed and rest in many tropical regions. In addition
to birds, shade coffee plantations provide habitat for orchids,
insects, mammals (such as bats), reptiles, and amphibians.
By creating consumer demand for shade-grown coffee, we can help stop
the conversion of acreage from shade to sun. The more we buy, the more
acreage of forests we can preserve by giving farmers financial
incentive to keep producing shade coffee in the traditional manner,
thereby saving forest habitats for farmers, as well as wildlife.
More Info! How does buying shade coffee help small coffee farmers?
A large proportion of the farms that grow shade coffee are small (less
than 10-12 hectares). Many of these small farmers rely on the secondary
crops produced in shade coffee plantations to supplement their income
and diet. Shade-coffee trees can provide fruit, fuel wood, and other
side crops, which give the farmers alternative sources of income when
the price of coffee on the international commodities market goes down.
In addition, it is estimated that shade coffee plantations require less
than 5% of the chemicals that sun plantations do in the cases where
some pesticides are used. This means that the farmers get less exposure
to chemicals over the course of their working lives.
What is organic coffee?
Organic coffee growing strives for a
balance with nature, using methods and materials which are of low
impact to the environment. Organic farming replenishes and maintains
soil fertility, eliminates the use of toxic chemical pesticides and
fertilizers, and builds a biologically diverse agriculture. In a
natural ecosystem, nature constantly works to correct imbalances.
Organic farmers do the same by selecting the most environmentally
friendly solutions to the pest and disease problems that affect their
crops. When a grower or processor is certified organic, a public or
private organization verifies that it meets or exceeds standards
defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Is all organic coffee also shade-grown?
Most, but not all, organic coffee is shade-grown, and not all shade
coffee is organically grown. Although, it usually uses significantly
fewer chemicals than sun coffee.
What is fair trade coffee?
Certified Fair Trade coffee has been traded and sold according to international fair trade criteria, including:
- Farmers are guaranteed a minimum "fair trade price" of
$1.26/pound FOB for their coffee. If world price rises above this floor
price, farmers will be paid a small ($0.05/pound) premium above market
price.
- Coffee importers provide a certain mount of credit to farmers against future sales.
- Importers
and roasters agree to develop direct, long-term trade relationships
with producer groups, cutting out middlemen (or "coyotes") and bringing
greater commercial stability to an extremely unstable market.
The fair trade movement is based on the idea that producers in
developing countries are capable of achieving economic success provided
they receive fair prices in international markets for what they produce.
Where can I buy shade-grown coffee?
You can purchase Shade Grown coffees from CoffeeWholesalers.com
What is the best coffee for the environment?
The best coffee for the environment (i.e., that which does the least
amount of damage to the natural environment and human standard of
living) is that which is shade-grown, organic, and fair-traded.
Where is shade coffee grown?
Shade coffee is grown on small plantations and farms throughout Latin
America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, Colombia, and Nicaragua,
among others.
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