The coffee grower must maintain his fields throughout the year.
Coffee growers must build and maintain terraces to control erosion. In Costa Rica, for example, the best arabica coffees are grown at elevations between 1,200 meters and 1,800 meters (4,000-6,000 feet) above sea level. Many coffee fields are situated in mountainous areas on steep slopes. Because of this, coffee growers must build and maintain small terraces on the mountainous inclines. These terraces give the coffee stable soil in which to grow.
Coffee growers must also control weeds, insects, and fungi in their coffee fields. Conventional farmers do this by apply toxic levels of very dangerous chemicals, while organic farmers rely on natural techniques. Both conventional and organic farmers must prune their fields regularly.
Shade-grown coffee also requires growers to control the type and amount of shade in their fields.
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