Why shade grown coffee is good for birds, the environment and conscientious coffee drinkers. 

As the world’s climate changes and animal habitats shrink, migratory birds have found a sanctuary in the shade of coffee farms in Central America. Shade grown coffee farms support the largest number of forest-dependent migratory birds of any agricultural habitat.

With up to 40 different tree species on shade managed coffee farms, shade trees provide a rich and diverse tree canopy in which migratory birds thrive. In fact, there are 97% more bird species on shade grown coffee farms than on full sun commercial coffee farms. The canopy supports insects and nectars that migratory birds feed on during their tropical winters and protects the coffee from sun and rain. The trees in the plantation are a source of natural mulch that hinders erosion and replaces important nutrients to the soil.

DID YOU KNOW…
Many birds travel from the US (especially northern states) to shade coffee farms in Central America.  That trip is between 300 and 3000 miles one-way.

Our featured shade grown coffees include
Organic El Salvador Santa Adelaida
Organic Guatemalan Lake Atitlan
Organic Mexican Zaragoza Select