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A Really Good Cup of Joe

IF YOU SIP SHADE GROWN COFFEE IN THE MORNING, YOU MIGHT BE DRINKING A BREW THAT’S LITERALLY FOR THE BIRDS. WE’LL HAVE A GOOD CUP OF JOE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

THOUSANDS OF NORTH AMERICAN SONGBIRDS FLY SOUTH EVERY WINTER, AND MANY FLOCK TO SHADED COFFEE FARMS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

(sfx: Baltimore oriole)

RUSS GREENBERG DIRECTS THE SMITHSONIAN’S MIGRATORY BIRD CENTER. HE SAYS LOCAL FARMERS TRADITIONALLY GROW COFFEE UNDER THE FOREST CANOPY, AND THAT PROVIDES BIRDS LIKE THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE WITH A RICH HABITAT.  IN COMPARISON, LARGE SCALE CORPORATE FARMS ARE MORE LIKE “BIOLOGICAL DESERTS.”

GREENBERG: THEY MAY EVEN BE WORSE THAN A CATTLE RANCH BECAUSE THEY’RE JUST ROWS AND ROWS OF COFFEE PLANTS WHICH IN THEMSELVES SUPPORT VERY LITTLE IN TERMS OF BIRDS OR DIVERSITY OR ANYTHING.”

GREENBERG SAYS THE SMITHSONIAN HAS THEREFORE DEVELOPED A BIRD FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION TO HELP CONCERNED CONSUMERS FIND COFFEE THAT’S ORGANIC AND SHADE-GROWN.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more about the Smithsonian’s Bird Friendly Coffee Certification.