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Does it Matter If Coffee Is Organic?
Are You an Avid Coffee Drinker? If so, chances are you have heard about the ongoing discussion about whether organic coffee is worth its higher cost. People often wonder if organic is beneficial to their health or tastes preferences; one key difference between organic and regular coffee lies in how it’s farmed – organic farmers use natural methods and without synthetic chemicals or fertilizers to create healthier soil conditions that prevent harmful toxins from being transferred through to your cup of joe! Additionally, organic farming supports farmers using environmentally friendly practices.
Organic coffee stands apart from its conventional counterpart in two important respects: farming processes and pest control. Conventional coffee farms typically utilize herbicides, fungicides and pesticides to combat weeds, insects and diseases that threaten crops; organic farmers must rely on natural methods instead. This may involve using natural gas flame weeders, feeding animals with the weeds or manually pulling them by hand to control weeds. Organic farmers should also rely on waste from their farms like manure or coffee pulp as nourishment for their plants’ wellbeing.
Organic coffee is also grown organically within forests rather than open fields where direct sunlight shines directly on it, to preserve ecosystems native to forests that support wildlife and are vitally important to sustaining our planet. Forested farms also tend to be more resilient against extreme weather events that have become more common with climate change.
Concerned about pests threatening organic coffee production, organic coffee plants are protected by natural predators such as birds and lizards that hunt birds as well as insect-eating beetles; however, when forests are cleared for coffee production these natural predators become displaceable; leaving farmers no choice but to resort to even more toxic chemicals to control overpopulation of pests that remain. Many consumers now prefer purchasing organic coffee because its ingredients do not include chemicals or pesticides – an advantage many consumers favor buying organic coffee with no chemicals or pesticides present!
Organic beans tend to produce better-tasting coffee because they’re allowed to develop naturally and mature under optimal conditions. Organic coffee’s extra cost can often be offset by its fair trade standards being strictly adhered to and farmers receiving fair compensation for their labor. God in a Cup, in particular, depicts corrupt practices at Cooperatives that operate in Ethiopia as described by their poor payment of below minimum wages to collective members. While choosing organic is ultimately your personal choice and budgetary considerations should always be taken into account, supporting producers who take proactive steps to keep their land and products free of harmful chemicals is always worthwhile.