Small and Organic is Beautiful
Just Us! purchases from smallholder, certified organic farmers and in some cases has helped farmers in transition by paying organic premiums while they were obtaining certification.
Many coffee growers are organic by default, as they have traditionally never used chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and others choose to eliminate the use of agro-chemicals from their farming methods. They can obtain audits, certification and access to international organic consumer markets through their producer co-operatives. The organic coffee trees are generally grown under the natural shade of canopy trees, which increases the crop’s inherent disease resistance. It also helps the fruit and beans mature slowly for sweet and rich tasting coffee. Pulp from the fruit surrounding coffee beans is an important part of the organic coffee farming cycle. It is saved during processing and made into natural, organic compost to add nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and micro-nutrients back into the soil for future crops. Organic, shade-grown coffee farms help maintain forest plant and animal biodiversity and can also help feed farm workers and their families with the harvest from fruit trees planted within the coffee and other indigenous species.
Conventional coffee is commonly grown on massive strip plantations in direct sunlight. This type of intensive mono-crop agriculture requires heavy use of chemicals, to the detriment of the environment, farm workers and local communities.