Higher Grounds Trading Co.’s Commitment to Organic Coffee:

We promise to offer you the very best in certified organic coffees.

In an effort to support new farmers during the three-year certification process, we may occasionally purchase transition-to-organic coffees (chemical-free but not yet certified). As we add new products - like teas - to our offerings, we’ll choose only organic (and locally made when available) products from like-minded businesses.

We believe knowledge begets power and that’s why you’ll find links to information about organic farming throughout our site!

Why Organic?

Quality - Rich, fertile soil and a cool canopy of diversified shade trees are two of the most important ingredients in a fine cup of  organic coffee. Mother Nature’s natural processes of green manuring and slow maturation of coffee cherries results in the most flavorful raw coffee beans which, in turn, provides us with a cup of coffee that is second to none!

Biodiversity - Organic coffee fields are filled with life! Monkeys frolic in shade trees above coffee fields in Ethiopia. Migratory birds flitter among avocado and orange trees interspersed throughout coffee fields in Mexico, and children use the dense forest of a coffee field in Nicaragua as their playground. Cultivating coffee without the use of chemicals provides a safe haven for life to thrive for now and generations to come.

Earth - Organic coffee production ensures that no dangerous chemicals contaminate the soil, water or air. Common organic coffee growing techniques include composting, the creation of live plant barriers to prevent erosion, and the use of organic pesticides made from natural materials found in a coffee field. And the best part – generations to come with have healthy soil to feed their families!

No Chemicals in My Cup Please!

Much of the world’s coffee is grown in large, open plantations using massive doses of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. These toxic cocktails harm the soil and groundwater, create an economic strain on the small-scale farmer, and have numerous negative health impacts for coffee growing communities.

High-input growing techniques accelerate the destruction of bio-diversity, clearing upper canopy trees in order to encourage higher yields. The coffee pulp - which accounts for more than half the mass of the coffee fruit - is often times discarded rather than composted.

I think you’ll agree, coffee grown with the use of chemicals has no place in a cup of high quality coffee! Choose only organic coffee!