What is Regenerative Organic Coffee?

Regenerative farming is a practice that many specialty coffee producers have used for decades, if not longer. However, regenerative farming or more specifically, Regenerative Organic Certified®, is now growing in popularity among those interested in a more holistic and sustainable approach to farming.

Interested in learning more about Regenerative Organic Certified® coffee? Joe Borg discusses regenerative farming, achieving the associated certification, and introducing a Regenerative Organic Certified® coffee to the Royal New York offerings list!

About the Certification

So, what exactly is regenerative farming and Regenerative Organic Certified®? Well, we paired with the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) to help you better understand. The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) is an agency that audits and certifies all parties in the supply chain, from farmer, to importer, to roaster. In 2017, this group set out to create a holistic farm-based, brand-driven certification by establishing Regenerative Organic Certified®, or ROC.

Regenerative Organic Certified® products are produced using practices that are considered beneficial and sustainable to the environment, animals, and people. ROC represents some of the highest standards for organic agriculture by imposing stringent requirements for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.

The USDA Certified Organic standard is the baseline for Regenerative Organic Certified®. On top of that, ROC adds important criteria and benchmarks that incorporate the three major pillars of regenerative organic agriculture into one certification: soil health & land management, animal welfare, and farmer & worker fairness.

While we can all agree that practicing sustainability in coffee and the environment as a whole is necessary, it’s your decision whether or not you choose to add this organic certification to your brand. Like other certifications, you’ll need to go through a licensing process to sell under and use the trademark ROC logo.

How to Sell Regenerative Organic Coffee

The process of becoming certified is rather simple. As a roaster or café owner, you don’t need to be fully certified to sell regenerative organic coffee. In fact, you just need to obtain a license to use the ROC logo on your products. Here are some key points to earning your license and retaining it through ROA’s annual audits:

• Firstly, apply for your license with ROA. You can only use the ROC logo on your products, website, marketing materials, etc. if you’re licensed.
• Make sure that the coffee you’re promoting is ROC certified. Check if it’s listed under ROA’s directory and/or ask the producer for verification.
• In order to obtain your ROC license, you must already be organic certified. For U.S. coffee roasters, this means that you need to be USDA Organic certified.
• Submit proof of your organic certification to ROA.
• Then, answer their questionnaire. This form ensures that your roasting practices align with ROC standards.
• Provide ROA with the details and specs of the organic coffee you plan to promote as ROC certified.
• Additionally, be prepared for an audit. Like other certifications, ROA conducts a yearly audit for all who sell ROC-labeled coffee to ensure compliance with their standards.
• Lastly, you have to pay an annual fee to ROA. After a flat rate for your first licensed year, each following year’s premium will be adjusted based on your revenue from ROC-labeled products.

Regenerative Organic Coffee at RNY

At RNY, we are all for practicing sustainability in the supply chain, especially at the farm level. After pursuing a certification for a few months, we’re happy to announce that we can now sell ROC coffee! We’re excited to add a brand new certification under our umbrella of licenses, and we hope you are, too.

In fact, we’re even more excited to talk about our new offering: Organic Colombia Tolima del Rio – ROC! This washed coffee is set to arrive in the next 45–60 days at our NJ warehouse. If you are like us and enjoy great coffee, then this one’s for you!