Coffee: Shade-Grown or Fair Trade?

It's a pretty safe assertion that most of us have heard of shade-grown and fair trade coffee. However, if you are still unsure of exactly what these terms mean, you're not alone. Here's what you need to know:

Shade-Grown

Shade-grown coffee is exactly as it sounds: coffee that is grown in the shade of trees. This is the traditional method of growing coffee. However, coffee beans grown under shade take a longer time to ripen. This can actually lead to better flavour, but the urge for quicker turnaround led producers to begin growing their coffee under full sunlight. This method of coffee growing means clearing trees. It also means using fertilizers and pesticides, as the removal of the trees meant the absence of birds who used the trees as shelter as well as provided protection against pests. Additionally, the soil that these coffee beans are grown in lacks the nitrogen provided by decaying leaves and animal waste.

There are a few shade-grown coffee farming practices. The rustic method, while still technically shade-grown, involves removing the lower-level forest growth to plant the coffee beans. Traditional polyculture strategically selects which trees and plants will grow with the coffee, often a type of plant that will grow a fruit or vegetable crop. Commercial polyculture is similar to traditional polyculture, but with fewer trees. Some fertilizers may be used with this method. The specialized shade method uses a single type of tree to provide shade for the coffee beans.

Fair Trade

Most of our coffee is bought at retail locations for consumption at home, so we do have some control over where it comes from. According to the CBC:

The vast majority of the coffee we buy comes from producers who are paid about 54 cents for a pound of beans – or about 11 cents for every dollar spent by the coffee-consuming public.

What fair trade coffee does is remove the middleman between coffee producer and coffee consumer, raising the amount the producer receives by about 17 cents per dollar. These producers are often independent farmers or members of a co-operative who obviously benefit from increased income. In addition, fair trade agreements set aside certain amounts of this money to be dispersed among the community where the coffee producer lives and works. This leads to improved living conditions, not just for the coffee grower, but for the extended community. One principle of fair trade is the advocacy of ecologically responsible and sustainable farming methods that preserve both the local ecosystems and the farmer's health. Fair trade coffee practices also encourage safe working conditions and help coffee growers to create their own sustainable and independent way of living.

As always, be sure to read the labels on coffee packages. Ensure that the coffee you're buying is authentically organic, fair trade or shade-grown and that it is certified by a reputable agency. Visit
the Greener Choices Eco-labels Center to find out what "green" terms and claims mean.

For a more in-depth analysis, have a look at this post: Your Sustainable and Eco-friendly Morning Cup of Coffee.

Sources:
INeedCoffee
CBC

Image: stock.xchng

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