Organic coffee has many health advantages that we take for granted, yet few understand exactly what that entails. Produced without pesticides and herbicides, which protect both the environment as well as those who cultivate it – the health benefits extend well beyond environmental concerns as organic farmers don’t face chemical exposure if their coffee wasn’t certified organic.

As interest in organic foods continues to surge, consumers are seeking additional details regarding certification processes. The USDA oversees an organic food certification program and when you see their seal on a product it indicates it meets their stringent standards. The USDA also offers various label designations that you should keep an eye out for when shopping, such as “Made with Organic” and “Organic,” which can be applied to products containing up to 95% organic ingredients (excluding salt and water) but less than 70%. Products meeting this threshold cannot use the USDA Organic seal but instead identify which specific organic components they contain on an information panel.

At The Exotic Bean, we take great pride in selling fair-trade and shade-grown coffee that is USDA certified organic, which ensures we work with farmers who take excellent care in tending their land and producing flavorful full-bodied coffees. Furthermore, our organic coffee is certified bird friendly to protect native songbirds while supporting sustainable forests.

The USDA recently unveiled major revisions to its organic certification regulations, creating an impactful change for all stakeholders within the organic certification system – from farmers and processors, traders, roasters, roastery operators and suppliers alike. To help inform this new development in detail, Firedancer Coffee Consultants and Wolf & Associates are hosting two free webinars dedicated specifically to meeting traders, brokers and roasters’ needs, while another one will offer more detail for producers, cooperatives, exporters and exporters.