What is the best coffee certification to look for when you want great coffee? What is the best coffee certification to look for if you want a product that has a low environmental footprint? What is the best certification to look for if you want coffee that was produced without child labor, dangerous working conditions, and a fair price paid to the coffee farmer and his family? With these thoughts in mind we consider USDA organic coffee, UTZ certified coffee, and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee.
USDA Certified
The United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, provides certification for foreign coffee growers. USDA organic coffee is subject to strict standards and organic coffee with USDA certification is reliably organic.
According to the USDA, the following applies to USDA organic coffee as well as to all organic food production. : “… Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.” Organic coffee certification reliably gives you a safe and flavorful coffee.
USDA certification has to do with agricultural practices, sustainable agriculture, and the absence of unwanted residues in a cup of coffee. It says nothing about labor practices or a fair price for the coffee farmer.
UTZ Certification
UTZ certified coffee conforms to much of what is required of organic coffee and more. The UTZ label tells you that the coffee you are buying came from a coffee farm that employed sustainable agricultural practices, good environmental practices and efficient farm management. UTZ Certified coffee is traced from grower to roaster. UTZ certified coffee is sold in North America, Europe, and Japan, in nearly fifty nations. According to UTZ,
UTZ Certified stands for sustainable farming and better opportunities for farmers, their families and our planet. The UTZ program enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improve working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment. Through the UTZ-program farmers grow better crops, generate more income and create better opportunities while safeguarding the environment and securing the earth’s natural resources.
Rainforest Alliance
Rainforest Alliance certified coffee covers, like UTZ, a wider range of issues than whether a coffee is strictly organic in origin. The Rainforest Alliance is a non-governmental organization that works to conserve biodiversity. It does so for agricultural products by influencing consumers to buy what is good for the environment and good for small farmers. Rainforest Alliance certified means that the coffee that you buy was produced using good land use practices. Certified coffee farms meet a strict set of environmental standards that include preservation of the ecosystem and reduction in use of synthetic chemicals of all sorts. In addition, strict health and safety requirements are part of getting Rainforest Alliance certified.
Which is the best coffee certification? Each of these certifications guarantees coffee that was produced with a minimum of environmental impact and a minimum of impurities in the coffee. USDA certification may be stricter when it comes to what is in the cup of coffee. However, both UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance are also concerned with a broader range of issues and will be the best coffee certification if child labor, fair pricing, and other issues are important in your choice of which coffee to buy.