A little light on the sustainability debate

"Sustainable. Certified organic. Bird friendly. Shade grown. Fair trade.

There are more ways to define virtuous production of tea and coffee than ever before. And for every opinion about the “right” way to grow, harvest, transport and process them, there’s a counterpoint to consider..."

...begins Kara Newman in her recent quest (Fresh Cup Magazine, June 2009) to decipher the different terms used to quantify, describe or certify "sustainable" teas and coffees.

Speckled with quotes from industry leaders and organizations, Kara's article sheds a little light on what makes tea and coffee "sustainable", but I think the whole truth--the bottom line-- about sustainable teas and coffees lies in the big picture, in the forest, not the trees.

This isn't about rules and regulations. Sustainability is about a lifestyle-- like a diet or a religion. For it to stick, you have to feel it. love it. love the way it makes you feel. love the positive impact it has on your life. The "you" here is the tea and coffee drinker, which is why it is up to tea and coffee companies to inspire tea and coffee lovers with beautiful cups of tea and coffee, with happy farmers with clean, prosperous land. Share the fun of being involved in the tea and coffee trades and having the opportunity to make things better-- for our planet and it s people. Like Kara said in her article,

"To help educate consumers, Scarborough recommends interactive cuppings and tastings—between organic and non-organic, and between different regions and blends. 'Getting people to enjoy tea and coffee and getting them to try the differences between high-quality organic teas and the alternatives is better than guilting people for not purchasing the ‘right’ tea or coffee.'"

Photo: Compost heaps in Darjeeling, N. India, where 100% of the tea estates are
being converted to, or already are, Organic. Sarah Scarborough, 2006.