Coffee Politics
There are several controversial social issues regarding coffee. Most people agree that sustainability, bird friendly coffees, and organic growing are important. However, the method to bring these ideas to fruition has been marked by problems with quality and money. Since the typical food and drink consumer is becoming more politically aware, here are some explanations of labels you may begin to see on store shelves.
 Sustainable coffee: coffee grown in a manner that is kind to the environment and its people. Many sustainable coffee products have the Rainforest Alliance Certified logo. The Rainforest Alliance works with foresters, farmers and tour operators to ensure that their goods and services are environmentally and socially friendly. |
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Fair Trade Coffee: coffee that is traded by bypassing the coffee trader and therefore giving the producer (and buyer) higher profits. Find out more at 
Organic Coffee: coffee that has been produced without the use of pesticides or herbicides. This logo is for the United States Department of Agriculture. Other countries have various logos of their own.
Bird-safe Coffee: also known as Shade Grown Coffee, this refers to coffee which is grown in conditions that benefit song birds who use it as a natural habitat, reduces the need for fertilizers and herbicides, and promotes biodiversification.
