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Producer spotlight
What our 2026 shade cover survey found across seven regions
Shade trees over a coffee plot during a canopy survey
By The Coffee Company CR Field Team
Every two years we walk a canopy survey across the farms we buy from, measuring shade cover density and cross-checking it against satellite imagery to confirm no lot was purchased from recently cleared land. The 2026 pass covered all seven of our growing regions.
The headline number
Average canopy cover across our 64 producer partners rose from 34% in the 2023 baseline to 39% this year, driven mostly by new native shade plantings in Tarrazú and the Central Valley rather than natural growth.
No purchases from cleared land isn't a slogan for us — it's a line item in the survey we publish.
Two farms fell short of our minimum threshold this cycle. Both are working with our agronomist on a replanting plan, and we've held their contracts open while that work continues.