Organic and fair trade coffee and tea: how to read USDA Organic and Fair Trade labels

Reading organic labels

In the US, a USDA Organic seal on a package refers to a government run program for how food is produced. The seal and wording such as made with organic ingredients can mean different things, so read the label and the USDA's own site for the current rules. Other countries have their own organic marks.

• Organic: check the certifier named near the seal.
• Made with organic ingredients: usually only part of the product.
• Natural: not the same as organic. It has no defined meaning on most food labels.

Reading fair trade labels

Fair trade marks are run by independent certifiers, and each has its own standards and approach. The mark on the box does not tell you exactly what that means for farmers, so look up the certifier's own site. Some brands use their own sourcing programs instead, and these are described by the brand rather than by a third party.

• Check which certifier's logo appears.
• Look for direct trade or similar wording and read what the brand explains.
• Under the FTC Green Guides and similar rules, general terms such as ethical or sustainable should be specific.

Coffee and tea formats

• Whole bean: lets you grind fresh, but needs a grinder.
• Ground: convenient, check the grind for your brewer.
• Pods: check whether they are compostable. See our compostable pods guide.
• Tea bags and loose leaf: tea bags may contain plastic in the sealing, so check the listing.

Our angle: price per cup

Compare by unit price: price divided by ounces, then estimate cups per bag using the maker's serving suggestion. A pod costs more per cup than ground coffee, while loose leaf tea can give several steeps. We do not state how many cups any package gives, so use the serving guidance on the label.

1. Find the ounces or count on the package.
2. Divide the price to get unit price.
3. Estimate your weekly cups and the package lasting time.
4. Compare the certified and uncertified options on the same basis.

Gift angle

A coffee or tea sampler is a common gift. Check the roast date and best-before date. See Christmas gift ideas by budget, and our guides to compostable coffee filters and tea bags and compostable coffee pods.

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