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Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee
Birds and Beans has recently introduced
two Rainforest
Alliance Certified coffees. The Rainforest
Alliance has a broad social and ecological mandate that spans
many sectors including agriculture. Coffee is one of the
agricultural crops targeted by Rainforest Alliance
programs. The coffee certification program is aimed at ensuring
that coffee
workers
are paid fairly,
treated with
respect
and
that the
crop they
tend
does not
contribute to soil erosion, water contamination and forest
destruction: the Rainforest Alliance
seal means that both social and environmental values are
respected.
Like Bird Friendly™ coffees, Rainforest
Alliance coffees are certified as shade grown and organic
by independent third-party inspectors
using criteria established by the Smithsonian
Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) of the National Zoo in
Washington DC. These criteria are based on years of scientific
research
aimed at halting and reversing the alarming trend of altered
and shrinking habitat in both North and Latin America for
our migratory birds. This habitat destruction has been linked
directly to "corporate" style coffee production.
Birds and Beans purchases
only shade grown coffees grown under socially responsible
conditions. In addition, we strongly support
the the Rainforest Alliance by:
- Registering with the Rainforest Alliance and using their
seal according to their strict rules,
- Paying a higher price for raw coffee,
- Clearly identifying which coffees are Rainforest Alliance
Certified,
- Seeking to raise awareness of the Rainforest Alliance
seal and its meaning,
- Preferentially selecting Rainforest Alliance Certified
coffees from our importers where possible, and
- Purchasing shade grown coffees where Rainforest
Alliance and/or Bird Friendly™ certification is not
yet in place.
Look for the Rainforest Alliance seal —only
coffee displaying this seal is Rainforest Alliance
Certified.
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