The benefits of organic spices, herbs and teas go beyond quality and safety for consumers. Numerous individuals are involved in their production, from growing to processing. The benefits of organic are apparent in regions where pesticides with higher toxicity are allowed, and there may be less enforcement of and training for the use of pesticides and personal protective equipment.
Organophosphates are not the only pesticides used in tea and spice production, but they are used widely in agriculture and are most reported for causing acute pesticide poisoning (APP). As a result of their widespread use, many people are exposed to organophosphates during their lifetime and complain of chronic illness following exposure.
“USDA organic standards eliminate occupational exposure to radiation and ethylene oxide gas for those who process spices, herbs and teas.”High levels of acute and low levels of chronic exposure to organophosphates in spice, tea and herb production increases the risk of chronic illness and impairments for those who work closely with these insecticides and other pesticides. Overall, organic production protects the safety and health of workers and communities as it promotes alternative measures for pest control and allows for the use of less toxic pesticides, reducing the potential risk for harm to those who must apply them or handle crops with residues.
Prohibiting the use of irradiation and ethylene oxide for pasteurization; inhaling ethylene oxide can lead to lymphoma and breast cancer.
With deep colonial roots, oppressive systems currently exist in many historical spice and tea production regions. Business models from the colonial British era are still present in Indian tea estates. Private entities own the land and facilities where tea farmers and workers live and oversee their choices for housing, food, healthcare and subsidies for children’s education.
While organic certification standards do not directly dismantle these systems, multiple studies show that producing spices and teas for the organic supply chain offers many social and economic benefits that help combat these oppressive systems.
Community benefits of organic production:
More options for paid local work that disproportionately benefits women of reproductive ages.
Organic Companies Go Beyond Certification to Support Community Development and Environmental Stewardship
Teeccino pioneered a new trade of wild-harvested ramón seeds collected in nine villages in Guatemla’s Maya Biosphere Reserve. By giving economic value to ramón trees and supporting local workshops to teach women how to prepare food made with ramón seeds for their families, Teeccino helps relieve poverty and provide critical nutrition for these rural communities while preserving the forest canopy.
As a worldwide leader in the manufacture and supply of natural botanical ingredients, Draco Natural Products believes in the importance of preservation, conservation, and maintaining the integrity of the natural environments where plants are harvested. They are partners in an initiative to protect and conserve panda habitats by maintaining bamboo forests for the continued sustainability of the plant and animal species that live there.
Kalustyan Corporation pledges to the next generations by combining sciences, technology, and sustainability practices to feed future generations. Their commitment starts at the planet’s foundation, and healthy soils are the vehicle to achieve those goals. Kalustyan advocates for a brighter future by taking forward-thinking actions to protect and restore degraded soil, which can only be remediated now with biological and micro-nutrient inputs.
They are committed to investing in origins, significantly leveraging the unified spice network, to offer sustainable practice to the planet and support farming communities who need healthy soils to grow crops. Find Kalustyan pledge here.
Young Mountain Tea is an Oregon-based importer and retailer of specialty loose-leaf tea. They directly source from small-scale organic farms on the Indian subcontinent. This mission-based brand works with Indian and Nepali communities to raise the quality of their tea, so they can earn more and raise the quality of their lives, creating a sustainable future for Himalayan farmers and their families. 1% of all sales from Young Mountain Tea support a farmer-owned, FSMA-compliant tea factory that they are launching in north India, scheduled to produce its first batch of certified-organic teas in spring 2023.
McCabe Sun-Dried Herbs and Teas are grown and harvested organically without using any chemicals or pesticides that may harm the natural habitat or environment. They also provide well-paying jobs in local communities by using hand sun-drying techniques, developed and led by community members, rather than drying machines that take jobs away from those who need them most.
ORGANIC INDIA participates in initiatives that raie the bar on what it means to be a socially and environmentally conscious business. The company sources herbs and spices for its teas and supplements from small organic farms that work to improve soil fertility, strengthen crop resilience, enhance water conservation, increase carbon sequestration, and eliminate the use of toxic pesticides. They purchase 100 percent of the crop yield from farmer-partners at premium market prices while providing health insurance and ongoing organic agricultural training.
Fuchs North America,an industry leader in custom organic seasoning and spice solutions, relies on intact economic, ecological, and social systems in its supply chain to promote sustainable and ethical practices. They reduce their carbon footprint by limiting energy consumption, CO2 emissions and water consumption,and invest in improving the living and working conditions of the people along their supply chain.
Frontier Co-op is a leader in organic and natural herbs, spices, and botanical products. Their Well Earth® sustainable impact sourcing program benefits farmers, the environment and businesses across the supply chain. They invest in infrastructure and business training to help their global suppliers adopt more sustainable practices.
Davidson’s Organics supports 5,000 small tea-producing families living within their organic and fair trade Darjeeling region. The company provides better working conditions for its growers by ensuring access to clean drinking water and medical care, providing household utilities such as electricity, cooking stoves and pressure cookers, providing soft loans for income diversification, developing a buy-back program for seed replantation, and focusing on women empowerment through the appointment of tea garden managers and welfare officers.
Young Mountain Tea is an Oregon-based importer and retailer of specialty loose-leaf tea. They directly source from small-scale organic farms on the Indian subcontinent. This mission-based brand works with Indian and Nepali communities to raise the quality of their tea, so they can earn more and raise the quality of their lives, creating a sustainable future for Himalayan farmers and their families. 1% of all sales from Young Mountain Tea support a farmer-owned, FSMA-compliant tea factory that they are launching in north India, scheduled to produce its first batch of certified-organic teas in spring 2023.
Mountain Rose Herbs takes its dedication to environmental activism seriously. They adopted a zero-waste policy almost 15 years ago and collect and sort every piece of discarded material that would normally end up in the landfill. This environmental dedication is also apparent in how they manage their facilities. They are a chemical-free facility with a list of banned materials, including toxic chemical cleaning products, bleaches, synthetic and chemical-based soaps, ammonia, chlorine, and commercial pest repellents, fumigants, or other synthetic agents. Their landscape is designed to slow water runoff and filter it within their on-site bioswale, retention pond, and rain garden, which are teeming with native plants.
Riega Foods believes that real food begins at the source. Growing close working relationships with their farmers and suppliers is integral to providing consistent, clean, and high-quality spices. Most importantly, it's how they foster greater farmer and supplier equity from seed to shelf. Colonization has had a lasting impact within supply chains. The exploitation of farmers and their goods led to major livelihood and economic disparities between small agrarian communities and their spice traders. With a supply chain that is personal, Riega is able to source from the farmers directly to ensure that opportunities are not only equitable, but are attained to strengthen local economies and livelihoods.
The Organic Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and education organization based out of Washington D.C. Our mission is to conduct and convene credible, evidence-based science on the environmental and health effects of organic food and farming and communicate the findings to the public.