Shade-grown coffee is grown under rainforest trees, providing habitat for animals and promoting conservation. It also has a unique flavor and environmental benefits, and is often organic. The success of shade-grown coffee has led to the production of other shade-grown crops. Certification and labeling are available for consumers.
Shade-grown coffee is produced from coffee plants grown in the shade of rainforest trees, rather than large conventional coffee plantations on cleared land. There are several reasons to seek out this type of coffee over conventional coffee, and a growing number of coffee producers are offering it in response to consumer demand. Most of the US is supplied by companies growing shade-grown coffees and conventional varieties, and it is also readily available in Europe.
Many promotional campaigns of shade-grown coffees focus on the benefit to birds, especially songbirds. By growing coffee in the shade of the rainforest, the farmer is also providing habitat for the animals. Rainforests around the world are rapidly depleting, thanks to a push to clear land for agriculture. Many species are feeling the pressure, and scientists are concerned about how quickly species and the rainforest are disappearing. Coffee grown under trees promotes the conservation of natural rainforests by providing a place for animals to live.
Even the flavor is up for debate. Shade coffee tastes different from conventionally grown coffee. Beans ripen more slowly, accumulating more sugars, along with complex flavors, before being harvested. Coffee actually doesn’t like to be grown in full sun conditions, so this variety takes advantage of the natural flavor of the coffee. For people who want to preserve historic traditions and lifestyles, shade-grown coffee encourages farmers to use practices they’ve used for hundreds of years.
There are also environmental benefits. By growing coffee in the shade of existing rainforests, farmers can take advantage of the natural mulching and fertilizing that occurs when trees and plants shed leaves and fruit, covering the forest floor in a rich layer of nutrient-rich material. In many cases, this type of coffee is organic, produced without pesticides and herbicides. Coffee also flourishes in a polyculture environment, encouraging farmers to plant different trees, shrubs and plants alongside coffee.
Other tropical plants can also be produced in a shady environment. The commercial success of shade-grown coffee has led, for example, producers to start growing shade-grown cocoa as well. Conservationists hope that increased awareness of food production issues will lead more consumers to actively seek out products from shady rainforests. Several companies offer independent certification and labeling for manufacturers so consumers can be confident in their purchases.
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