Why Shade Grown?
Coffee was originally grown on farms with trees and plenty of shade cover for coffee plants but over time, more and more coffee plantations replaced these natural growing environments with “sun” grown coffee farms. Its negative impact affects you, many species of birds and our environment.
Shade grown coffee matures more slowly therefore creating a low acidity level and enhanced flavor in your cup of coffee. Additionally, there are 150 species of birds that have been identified on shade coffee farms. Many of these migratory bird populations have been in rapid decline since the introduction of sun grown coffee. A commitment to shade grown farming practices protects the existence of carbon dioxide filtering trees which also aid in the soil moisture retention which helps minimize erosion.