Organic. Sustainable. Fair Trade.

You've probably heard these terms, but what do they actually mean? And do they actually make a difference?

The short answer - yes. Sustainable farming practices improve the taste and quality of your coffee. They also have important benefits for the environment and human health. So, choosing coffee with your conscience is a win-win.

What are the issues with conventionally-grown coffee?

Coffee is one of most traded commodities in the world. With this increasingly high demand, many farmers attempt to maximize production by fitting more plants into a smaller space. Farming in this way has detrimental effects for humans and for the planet.

Environmental Damage

You've likely heard of fruits and vegetables being sprayed with harmful chemicals, but conventional coffee is actually among the most chemically treated foods around.

The application of chemicals (like pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers) leads to:

• soil erosion and overall land degradation
• loss of pollinator, soil and plant biodiversity
• less nutrient-dense soil, demanding the use of additional fertilizer

Conventional coffee is also grown in full sun (coffee grows best in the shade), which requires massive deforestation. This eliminates wildlife habitat and leaves natural pest-deterring animals without a home. More pesticides are then needed, starting a damaging cycle.

Human Health & Safety

People working or living near conventional agricultural sites are affected by:

• chemical toxicity through skin contact and inhalation
• fertilizer runoff contaminating the water supply

Synthetic chemicals are proven to be extremely harmful to human health, putting farmers, their families, and the surrounding community at risk for acute poisoning and chronic illnesses.

What about our coffee?

All Inlands coffee is 100% organic certified.

What makes coffee organic?

Simply, no synthetic chemicals or fertilizers are used in any step of production.

Organic coffee is generally grown in a shaded environment (as nature intended it). The shade of a lush forest provides a habitat for local plants and wildlife, maintains soil fertility, and increases the system's resilience to unpredictable weather and climate change.

Any fertilizers used are from a natural source like compost or coffee pulp. This helps close the loop by recycling organic matter back into the growing process.

Not to mention, organic coffee is richer in antioxidants, giving you more of the health benefits you want. Add mushrooms, and you've got a beverage that's even more health-packed.

Who grows our coffee?

Inlands coffee beans come from a cooperative group of small-scale farmers in Honduras. Important aspects of the co-op:

• Fair trade - workers are paid above livable wages
• Educational programs and training
• Safe and healthy environment for workers and the larger community

The co-op practices regenerative agriculture, which helps prevent ecological depletion and improve the entire ecosystem. Through techniques such as rotating crops and reducing tillage, the land is left healthier than it was before.

Plus, the beans are grown at a 1200 - 1800m elevation, creating a rich, complex flavor profile and full aroma.

Our goal at Inlands is to source the best tasting, highest quality, most ethical coffee and get it to you sustainably. We've done the work so you can sip without a worry.

Find coffee products here.

What's your favorite benefit of buying organic? Let us know below!