• There are several certifications you can look for on your coffee that signal benefits to the environment and coffee growing communities. Fair Trade Certified, USDA Organic, and Rainforest Alliance Certified are three of the biggest.
• Fair Trade means that the farmer who grew the coffee received a minimum $1.26 per pound – a fair price to farmers in coffee-growing regions.
• USDA Organic is certified by the United States Department of Agriculture. Organic coffee is grown without chemical pesticides or herbicides, which is better for the environment and, some believe, yields better tasting coffee.
• Rainforest Alliance Certification means that farmers are working to maintain the health of both the land and the people living on it.
• Keep in mind that some coffees have a certification stamp, but in fact only contain 30% of the certified product. Read the labels carefully to make sure your choice is a wise one.

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