National Fair Trade Month: Bird Friendly Certification
Bird Friendly Certification is not as well-known as some of the other certifications we’ve highlighted this month, but it is equally important. Bird Friendly Certification builds on Organic Certification by including additional requirements to ensure farmers are maintaining the forest cover, the natural habitat of birds and other wildlife.
Bird Friendly Certification was created by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, part of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Some of the additional requirements for Bird Friendly Certification include a minimum of 40 percent shade coverage over fields and recommendations for the types and sizes of trees that provide the shade. This helps maximize the diversity and volume of wildlife that will benefit from the preserved canopy.
Although coffees with Bird Friendly Certification can be hard to find, the growing focus on conservation is leading to the increased availability of these coffees.
Speak with one of our coffee representatives to learn more about this certification and the coffees we carry that meet Bird Friendly Certification standards.