Monday, February 4, 2013

What Coffee Has to Do With BIRDS...

All of us know about organic coffee, fair trade coffee, and the importance of shopping your conscience with the right product companies.  Those in the know only purchase coffee that can show certifications that they are organic and fair trade. 

There is also shade grown coffee, which is as very close to natural coffee growing conditions.  Coffee is actually a shade crop.  Growning in natural shade and environmental conditions not only produces a better cup of coffee, it also protects the wildlife and ecosystem that support the coffee crops and ensure a long and fruitful future coffee crop for all of us to enjoy - without destrying the ecosystem in which this crop (and the people who live and work in the regions) exists.  Unfortunately, there has been no certification or oversight for shade grown verification of coffee crops -- until now! 

The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) has developed the only 100%-organic shade-grown coffee certification.  According to the SMBC, "Every day more and more coffee plantations are being certified with the SMBC "Bird Friendly®" seal of approval because it is the only 100%-organic shade-grown coffee certification available."

But what do birds have to do with coffee?  "In the time that it takes you to drink your next cup of coffee, acres of tropical forest will be lost. Along with it will go the birds and other wildlife that depend on it."

Thanks to the SMBC, Shade-grown organic coffee plantations carrying the "Bird Friendly®" seal of approval "play a key role in the conservation of our global environment and of migratory birds that find sanctuary in their forest-like environments." 

Wise Coffee is currently working with the SMBC to be certified and approved by them to carry the SMBC seal of approval.  This includes donating back to the SMBC a percentage of all coffee purchsed and sold by Wise Coffee, as well as working with them to promote their vital message. 

We current offer Colombian Sierra Nevada SMBC coffee to our private clients and via our website at www.wisecoffee.com.  More SMBC coffees are being added this Spring to our inventory.

To learn more about SMBC coffee and how you can become active in promoting their message of ecological responsibility and hope for the future of shade-grown and organic coffee production around the planet, please visit their site at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/coffee/default.cfm.