Introduction to Song Bird Coffee

Song Bird Coffee is the result of a joint venture between the American Birding Association (ABA) and Thanksgiving Coffee Company. Fifteen cents from each package are donated to the ABA.

The nonprofit American Birding Association promotes the health and safety of bird populations. Thanksgiving Coffee Company has been a socially and environmentally aware coffee producer for over 34 years. Convinced of Thanksgiving's pioneering and time-tested values, the ABA approached the company to be its partner in the Song Bird project.

Preserving forests and people

Traditionally and naturally, most coffee has been grown in the shade of rainforests. Beginning in 1972, farmers have been encouraged to increase crop yields by clearcutting their farms and switching to new sun-tolerant hybrids.

The slow but steady conversion to sun-grown coffee has resulted in massive deforestation that continues to this day. Sun growing has also increased pollution, as it requires chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides unnecessary for shade growing. Once committed to this technified process, farmers can find themselves unable to afford the requisite chemicals in times of natural disasters and lean harvests.

Preserving habitat

Many birds familiar to North Americans migrate to the canopies of Latin American rainforests. In fact, 33% of all migratory birds that breed in the United States spend winter in coffee growing areas of Latin America.

Shade coffee farms support over 150 species of birds. This is a far greater number than is found in other agricultural habitats and is only slightly exceeded in undisturbed rainforests. In the midst of shrinking rainforest habitat, migratory birds have found sanctuary in shade-grown farms.

Organic and Shade Grown
Thanksgiving Coffee uses verified shade grown coffee. This means that its CEO, Paul Katzeff, or the importer has personally inspected the farm to insure that the plants are properly grown in the shade. Thanksgiving's certified organic coffees are assessed by organizations such as the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). The company's certification includes its plant and processing, a level of inspection beyond that undertaken by most producers. Most of Thanksgiving's shade grown coffee is Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified.