Comments on: Is This the End of Organic Coffee? http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/ Coffee & Commentary Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:43:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: deCadmus http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14706 deCadmus Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:58:34 +0000 http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14706 I understand that, save for a single recorded violation in one coffee cooperative in Mexico (where one or more farms were using a synthetic fungicide,) the impetus for this change comes not from coffee at all, but from apparently massive violations among organic certified soybean growers in China. Certainly it makes sense that USDA make some changes to curtail and contain violations... but those changes need to be appropriate to the scope and nature of the problems, not a sweeping update to all group certifications. That's a reflexive action that's entirely out of proportion with the apparent cause, and *so* sweeping as to make one wonder whether there's not a hidden agenda at play. I understand that, save for a single recorded violation in one coffee cooperative in Mexico (where one or more farms were using a synthetic fungicide,) the impetus for this change comes not from coffee at all, but from apparently massive violations among organic certified soybean growers in China.

Certainly it makes sense that USDA make some changes to curtail and contain violations… but those changes need to be appropriate to the scope and nature of the problems, not a sweeping update to all group certifications. That’s a reflexive action that’s entirely out of proportion with the apparent cause, and *so* sweeping as to make one wonder whether there’s not a hidden agenda at play.

]]> By: Debbie http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14704 Debbie Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:50:05 +0000 http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14704 Let's not forget that this arose as the result of a violation, okay? That doesn't mean the USDA is totally in the right, but it does mean that they aren't being altogether random. Poke around a bit and you'll find a petition designed to respond to this. It's not over. Debbie http://www.organic-food-and-drink.com Let’s not forget that this arose as the result of a violation, okay? That doesn’t mean the USDA is totally in the right, but it does mean that they aren’t being altogether random. Poke around a bit and you’ll find a petition designed to respond to this. It’s not over.

Debbie
http://www.organic-food-and-drink.com

]]> By: Bloggle » What Is Organic Coffee, Anyway? (And why should I care?) http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14497 Bloggle » What Is Organic Coffee, Anyway? (And why should I care?) Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:19:05 +0000 http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14497 [...] noted in a prior post — Is This the End of Organic Coffee? — that USDA’s plan to change enforcement of its National Organic Program (NOP) [...] [...] noted in a prior post — Is This the End of Organic Coffee? — that USDA’s plan to change enforcement of its National Organic Program (NOP) [...]

]]> By: deCadmus http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14362 deCadmus Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:00:10 +0000 http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14362 In trying to get my arms around this issue I'm finding it's about as complex as they come. There are heartfelt and honest perspectives offered by the organic community, who have concerns about corporate "greenwashing" and phony products; folks involved in food safety have a point of view; and certainly coffee growers and importers and roasters have a view. About the only folks who *don't* have a point of view on this issue to-date are consumers, who simply haven't learned about it just yet. I'm rounding up conversations with roasters and certifiers and the like, and hope to post more at length soon. In trying to get my arms around this issue I’m finding it’s about as complex as they come.

There are heartfelt and honest perspectives offered by the organic community, who have concerns about corporate “greenwashing” and phony products; folks involved in food safety have a point of view; and certainly coffee growers and importers and roasters have a view. About the only folks who *don’t* have a point of view on this issue to-date are consumers, who simply haven’t learned about it just yet.

I’m rounding up conversations with roasters and certifiers and the like, and hope to post more at length soon.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14308 Jonathan Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:54:36 +0000 http://www.bloggle.com/2007/04/is-this-the-end-of-organic-coffee/#comment-14308 Thank you for getting this out there. There needs to be much movement against this. I recently visited some of our farmers that get our coffee from in the Dominican Republic. Some are still fighting to transition to organics. It costs so much for them. Nickels and dimes to us, but it's nearly unattainable for the farmer. They will never again be able to certified organic if this happens. If this all goes through we will no longer be able to carry the organic seal on our bags because we only roast fair-trade beans from these small farms. That seal really helps us move into the specialty coffee sector. It's what sets us apart, proves the value, and shows the consumer that we are committed to sustainability. This is going to thoroughly disrupt the specialty coffee market. Not only is the NOP destroying small farmers in the third world, but they are going to wipe out the specialty coffee market. Suddenly every can of Maxwell House and Folgers is going to be organic and none of the higher end stuff will be. We are going to see a coffee crisis again, only this time, I fear the effects are going to be immeasureable and unable to be corrected. My head is spinning and I can barely gather my thoughts. Something must be done! Thank you for getting this out there.

There needs to be much movement against this. I recently visited some of our farmers that get our coffee from in the Dominican Republic. Some are still fighting to transition to organics. It costs so much for them. Nickels and dimes to us, but it’s nearly unattainable for the farmer. They will never again be able to certified organic if this happens.

If this all goes through we will no longer be able to carry the organic seal on our bags because we only roast fair-trade beans from these small farms. That seal really helps us move into the specialty coffee sector. It’s what sets us apart, proves the value, and shows the consumer that we are committed to sustainability. This is going to thoroughly disrupt the specialty coffee market. Not only is the NOP destroying small farmers in the third world, but they are going to wipe out the specialty coffee market. Suddenly every can of Maxwell House and Folgers is going to be organic and none of the higher end stuff will be.

We are going to see a coffee crisis again, only this time, I fear the effects are going to be immeasureable and unable to be corrected.

My head is spinning and I can barely gather my thoughts. Something must be done!

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