 |
|
Home :: University :: Certifications :: Certifications
Organic & Fair-Trade Certification
In addition to class and size of bean, coffee can also be categorized into Organic or Fair Trade, both of which demand price premiums above the specialty grade classification. The following is a description of what these categories mean, and the certification process attached to each of these appellations.
Organic
Organic certification proves that a coffee has been cultivated, grown, harvested, processed, shipped, roasted, and sold in conditions that do not affect the organic integrity of the coffee, and that help promote sustainability in agriculture. The legalities of this are determined by the USDA, and the verification certificate is outsourced to various accreditation organizations. The reasons for organic farming are many, as it is better for the sustainability of the land, for the health of the farm workers, and for that of the consumers. Certified Organic coffee has grown tremendously in market share (up 40% from 2004 to 2005), and as of this writing accounts for over 40% of Metropolis’s labeled coffee output.
Farmers, brokers, transportation companies, and roasters are all independently certified organic. A paper trail is maintained from farm to roaster, showing a solid chain of custody. In conjunction with the independent certifications, the chain of custody shows that organic integrity is maintained at each stage of the coffee’s travels.
Metropolis is certified organic by OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association), one group under the USDA licensed to accredit organic producers. Every year we submit to a full review of our record keeping and organic roasting practices. For more information about organic certification, click here.
Fair Trade
The impetus for Fair Trade Certification is an international system of doing business that offers better trading conditions for producers and workers in developing countries. For many of the world’s 25 million coffee farmers, coffee is a labor intensive crop that yields little financial return. However, through Fair-Trade certification coffee producers are offered a minimum floor price and a social premium, ensuring that costs of production are covered, and that communities can invest in important social and economic initiatives.
Behind the principles and goals of Fair Trade is a rigorous international system of monitoring, auditing, and certification. Transfair USA is the sole certification organization in the US for monitoring, auditing, and certifying U.S. sellers of Fair-Trade goods. Click here to visit TransFair USA’s website.
International Fair Trade standards for coffee:
Producers are organized in cooperatives (or associations) which they own and govern.
- The minimum guaranteed floor price and premium is paid directly to the producer coop.
- Environmental standards restrict the use of agrochemicals and encourage sustainability.
- Pre-harvest lines of credit are given to the cooperatives if requested, of up to 60% of the purchase price.
- A social premium of 5 cents/lb is included in the purchase price and is used by cooperatives for social and economic investments such as education, health services, processing equipment, and loans to members
- Freedom of association exists for farmers and workers, in addition to democratic decision-making processes
- paper
All coffee marketed as Fair Trade by Metropolis bears the Fairtrade Logo, ensuring that all the conditions listed above have been met by the growers and the buyers. In addition to the premium added to the specialty price, Metropolis pays TransFair USA a percentage of all Fair-Trade green purchases every fiscal quarter.
|
|
|
