Ogawa Coffee's 4 Recommended Organic Coffees - December 8th is Organic Agriculture Day -
What is organic coffee?
Organic coffee is coffee that is grown using only natural methods, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
"Certified coffee" is the general term for coffee that has been evaluated and certified by non-profit organizations or third-party organizations in accordance with certain assessment methods for purposes such as sustainability, cultivation methods, and producer support.
Typical products exported to Japan include "organic coffee," "fair trade," and "bird friendly."
Through the procurement, roasting, and sale of these coffees, Ogawa Coffee is also working to create a sustainable coffee growing environment.
What is JAS organic certified coffee?
Organic coffee is grown using the power of nature to the fullest extent possible, without relying on chemically synthesized pesticides, fertilizers, or genetic modification.
Not only does it reduce the burden on the environment, such as the soil, but it also has fewer health effects from chemicals, making it a farming method that is kind to producers who work on farms. Farms and manufacturing plants are inspected by registered certification organizations every year to ensure that they are produced properly according to the rules. Only foods that meet these strict standards are allowed to display the "Organic JAS Mark."
Ogawa Coffee obtained JAS organic certification for its Kyoto factory in 2001. In order to deliver delicious coffee to everyone, we are also working to create a sustainable coffee growing environment through the sale of organic coffee.
→ Organic House Blend drip coffee (7 cups)
What is Fair Trade?
Fair trade is a trading system in which agricultural products and other products from developing countries are imported and consumed at a fair price that takes into consideration the livelihood of farmers, rather than simply purchasing them at market price.
Most coffee-producing countries are so-called developing countries. The price of coffee beans is determined on the international market. Producers who are unable to keep up with market trends far away and have no way of negotiating with traders are sometimes forced into a situation where they have no choice but to sell at prices below the cost of production. As a result, they are unable to earn the profits necessary for production and living, and are forced to live an unstable life.
In order to contribute even a little to this situation and continue to deliver delicious coffee to everyone, Ogawa Coffee obtained a manufacturing license for international fair trade certified products in 2003. In 2004, we began selling international fair trade certified coffee.
→Fair Trade Blend (powder) 150g
→Fair Trade Blend (beans) 150g
What is Bird Friendly?
Bird Friendly is coffee that meets certification standards given to farms that produce coffee while protecting the habitat of migratory birds.
It was in the late 1990s that expert research discovered that coffee plantations are related to the habitat of migratory birds. Traditional coffee cultivation is carried out in an environment close to natural forests, known as shade-grown, and migratory birds use the forests as resting places and feed on the insects that live there. However, in recent years, the forests have been cleared to reduce costs, and the number of coffee plantations that use machines for harvesting has increased, resulting in the loss of the natural environment and a decline in the number of migratory birds.
In order to maintain farms in an environment close to natural forests, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center established certification standards in 1999. They established the Bird Friendly® Certification Program, which purchases coffee beans from certified farms at a premium price, thereby supporting farmers and protecting migratory birds.
Ogawa Coffee, which sympathized with this initiative, began selling Japan's first Bird Friendly® certified coffee in 2005. The coffee beans that grow slowly in the forest are of high quality, and the shade-grown method, which provides wind protection and reduces direct sunlight, also helps to create sustainable farms. We want to convey the importance of the natural environment to our customers through the taste of our coffee.
→ Bird Friendly® Blend (powder) 150g
→ Bird Friendly® Blend (Beans) 150g
December 8th is Organic Agriculture Day
"Organic Agriculture Day" was established in 2016 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the enactment and enforcement of the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act.
The purpose of this day is to raise awareness and understanding of organic farming and organic practices, and it is hoped that this will be a turning point for everyone to think about the future of agriculture and take action.
While enjoying your organic coffee, why not think about what can be done from a cup of coffee?
