In general, coffee is the second largest world commodity after petroleum. All over the world, the ecosystems in the neo-tropics between 1,500 and 4,500 feet above sea level are threatened by coffee plantations. In Honduras, sun coffee is grown at even lower levels. Shade trees help maintain soil quality. The taller trees provide natural mulch and reduce erosion.
Some medicinal plants grow as parasites on the larger trees.
Hondurans plant nitrogen-fixing plants near coffee, which contribute to improved soil quality. Shade coffee is usually grown by smaller landowners like the Pech, because sun coffee requires access to credit to buy the extra agro-chemicals required. When large coffee buyers like Folger's buy coffee, they buy beans from exporters who mix together beans from different parts of the country, said the spokesperson. Thus there is no control over whether the coffee is sun grown or mountain grown under shade. Although the new variety can withstand the hot sun, some experts still believe the plant is weakened, so that it takes more agro-chemicals to grow the coffee.