Bird Friendly Coffee
While I am not much of a coffee connoisseur or drinker, I do go through a pound of decaff every 2 or 3 months. Recently, when reaching for the organic beans, I noticed a big “Bird Friendly” label on the bag. I thought “Oh that’s cool”, but did not have any idea what it really meant. I had read about the importance of supporting economically and environmentally sustainable coffee producers and importers, and when the choice is available, I will always choose organic food, but this was the first time I had heard of “bird friendly” coffee.
With a little research, I discovered that coffee is traditionally a shade grown crop, planted in the understory of mature forests in Latin America. However, several decades ago there was an effort to streamline and “modernize” coffee production to more closely parallel the big business agriculture model that has become so common worldwide. This resulted in a turn away from traditional coffee growing methods. Much of the coffee in Latin America started to be produced on farms where the coffee was either grown under an unnatural canopy of only a few species of mature trees or pretty much right out in the open.
This new approach to coffee growing allowed more sun to reach the coffee plant, but turned out to adversely affect the migratory bird population that winters in Latin America. These migratory birds depend on the varied natural forest ecosystem and it’s insect population to survive. Growing coffee this way also introduced the use of chemical fertilizes, pesticides, and disease controlling agents. In addition, the increased sun and fertilizer created a nice environment for weed growth, so the use of herbicides became necessary. Although this method of coffee growing resulted in increased yields per acre, it was eventually realized that the quality of the coffee was inferior to coffee grown in the shade of a natural forest. Coffee producers then began replanting their farms with trees to provide shade for the coffee. The replanting, however, was usually done with only one or a few species of trees, which, although an improvement, did not approach the diversity of a natural forest. In more recent years, growers have come to realize that by planting their coffee in the understory of a natural forest, birds are attracted to the farm and eat most of the insect pests that previously had to be killed with pesticides. Also, because the shade controls weed growth, herbicides are not needed. Finally, the slower growth of the coffee results in a denser, higher quality bean.
The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center has developed a certification program for bird friendly coffee. Learn more about the history and working of this great program at the Smithsonian web site. If at all possible where you live, try to purchase coffee labeled with the Smithsonian stamp. I found mine in the “health food” section of a small local store, but I notice that almost all Fred Meyer stores also carry it. This certification does not seem to add much to to cost of a pound of beans and your resulting organic morning coffee will be healthier, for the forests, for the birds, for the coffee growers and for you!
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Not to mention, if roasted well, shade grown coffee TASTES better. The slower growth seems to produce a more flavorful and less bitter bean.
Around here, you used to have to go to the local wild bird supply/feed/feeders/grain store to get it but now, thankfully, you can get it more places.
Also, shade grown coffee is more labor intensive so brings more jobs to the areas that grow it. Because it isn’t grown in regimental rows, the harvesting takes more bodies. Also, its slower growing cycle in the shade means that beans ripen at different times and that helps maintain a more stable economy in the areas where this kind of agriculture is practiced. There is less of a seasonal boom/bust cycle going on.
Comment by techfun — December 29, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
Thanks for those facts, JD! Interesting about the wild bird specialty stores. We have one here. I’ll have to see if they sell the coffee also.
-Will
Comment by Will — December 29, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
We drink a lot of coffee and usually end up buying whatever is on sale. The next time I am grocery shopping I will be sure to look for the bird-friendly labels and will consider purchasing it if it doesn’t break my budget.
Comment by Alan — December 29, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Hi Alan. It will be the same as organic coffee. But as JD says with coffee, apparently the difference in growing method does create a much better tasting coffee. So might be worth the extra price.
-Will
Comment by Will — December 29, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Bird-friendly? That’s a new approach. Considering my blog theme I shouldn’t even be commenting here, but I like “real” coffee too, so thanks for the tip.
Comment by Kopi Dunia — December 29, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Hi Kopi! You and any comments are welcome here. Your blog sure fits the definition of “niche”!
-Will
Comment by Will — December 29, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Does Bird Friendly coffee need to be Fair Trade?
Does the farmer get any of the money or is it with the broker and roaster and how does that work?
Comment by George conomos — January 24, 2008 @ 6:31 am
Hi George! I have been told that the Smithsonian “Bird Friendly” label coffee is fair trade in addition to being organic and sustainably grown. I have indeed purchased Bird Friendly Organic coffee at Fred Meyer that also has a Fair Trade stamp. It is difficult to find the Fair Trade claim in the Smithsonian site, however. I have emailed them asking to make it more clear on the website, and will send another request for clarification today.
So, in summary, I believe all “Bird Friendly” coffee, in addition to being organic, is also Fair Trade, but that may not be correct. There is nothing on the Smithsonian site that specifically says that. I would be even more sure of that if the Smithsonian would put it more visibly on its web site. I’ll let you know if I find out anything more specific.
Comment by Will — January 24, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Thanks for the great information on bird friendly coffee. I appreciate all the research you have done to answer questions also. I am a very concerned birder and an avid coffee drinker so now I am on a quest in my local area to find some of this obciously superior coffee!
Comment by Larry Jordan — February 29, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
You are welcome, Larry. Your comment took a while to show up because of all the stuff related to transferring my domain, but it came through! I really like the photo of the beautiful bird on your March 4th post. We certainly don’t have anything like that in our backyard!
-Will
Comment by Will — March 5, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Great information and it’s great that you spend so much time answering the questions commentators have.
Personally I don’t drink coffee so that’s today’s good deed ticked.
Comment by Mike Touch — April 7, 2008 @ 8:47 am
I’m an ecologist that writes a blog all about sustainable coffee, so perhaps I can answer George’s question.
For a coffee to get Smithsonian’s Bird-Friendly certification, it must also be certified organic. Farmers get a price premium for the organic certification, and often also get a price premium for the Bird-Friendly certification. Some of these coffees may also be Fair Trade certified, some may not. This might be due to a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Fair Trade certification is only available to cooperatives — individual small farmers or even larger family-owned estates do not qualify.
Smithsonian Bird-Friendly has the best and most stringent environmental criteria, but is also the smallest certifier. Still, if you know what to look for you can find sustainable (eco-friendly and providing a good living for farmers). I have a post providing some tips:
http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2007/05/top_5.html
And a whole lot more about these issues! Thanks for bringing this to the attention of people!
Julies last blog post..What is the market share of eco-certified coffee?
Comment by Julie — July 13, 2008 @ 5:42 pm