| Copyright (c) 2008 Soaring Eagle Companies LLC | | | | example, how coffee beans are picked and how |
| Understanding how a product such as coffee | | | | they are stored as well as how chemical free |
| becomes certified organic, gains a better | | | | they remain while being packaged and shipped is |
| understanding into the world of nutrition and how | | | | essential in meeting organic food guidelines and |
| food labels affect ones health and well being. | | | | measures. Organic coffee beans must meet full |
| Organic food basically means that even before | | | | organic standards right up until they land on store |
| the food was grown, the area where the seeds | | | | shelves at the local market or grocery store to |
| or plants were planted had to be free and clear | | | | be ready for consumers to purchase. |
| of waste and chemicals such as fertilizers and | | | | The land in which the coffee or other organic |
| pesticides. Any type of plant food spray is | | | | product is being grown on must remain free from |
| prohibited when it comes to growing the coffee | | | | any chemical or fertilizer dumping that could |
| bean, which means extra care has to be | | | | contaminate the soil even if it isn't being directly |
| established by the grower such as weeding by | | | | sprayed onto the organic plants. Even the smallest |
| hand, pest removal by means of not using any | | | | amount of outside contamination can occur from |
| type of chemical and routine feeding and | | | | chemicals that have leaked into the surrounding |
| maintenance by drug free plant food. The same | | | | soil, thus making the coffee un-certifiable organic. |
| goes for organically grown vegetables and also | | | | Keeping non-certified organic food separate from |
| animals that are also being raised for the | | | | organic food is essential in keeping up with the |
| consumption of organic milk and meat. | | | | standard guidelines with the organic label. Cross |
| For a company or manufacturer to allow their | | | | contamination of food such as coffee beans is not |
| coffee to become certified organic they must | | | | allowed and could cause a business to lose their |
| first differentiate between their organic growing | | | | license or organic food selling privileges. |
| methods and their more traditional methods that | | | | Growers must live up to the highest standards in |
| involve the use of synthetic chemicals and | | | | keeping organic versus non organic foods |
| sewage sludge in the growing and manufacturing | | | | separate from the time of planting and even up |
| of all the food they grow as well as the animals | | | | to delivery and distribution. |
| they raise at the same location. | | | | Having the site where the coffee is grown |
| For products such as coffee to be labeled | | | | periodically inspected by government food officials |
| certified organic, a farm or business must set high | | | | or nonprofit organic organizations and private |
| standards throughout the entire growing process. | | | | companies is the only way for a product to carry |
| From the way seeds or plants are stored to | | | | an organically grown stamp on their coffee. |
| before they are planted, are just as important as | | | | Growers must abide by all of these guidelines in |
| keeping unnatural chemicals and preservatives | | | | order to maintain a healthy environment for |
| away from them while they are growing. For | | | | coffee until it reaches the consumer. |