Small-Scale Producers of Cashew, Macadamia and Groundnuts Helped to produce & Market Quality Nuts
In the 1970s, communities of farmers in southern Africa exported significant quantities of nuts but as stringent food safety requirements were introduced and as regional insecurity took its toll, trade collapsed. Now, with the Fairtrade initiative, these communities once again have the opportunity to export their crops. Read the story of Judith Harry, the face behind the world's first Fairtrade salted peanuts 67.1 Kb
RTFP is financing a three year project with TWIN (Third World Information Network) to develop traceable quality management systems and market the sale of Fairtrade nuts into mainstream UK supermarkets (such as the UK company TESCO).
Key activities over the early part of 2007 relate to preparing to deliver the new product lines to retailers; continuing to set up the legal structures of a new ethical nut business; brand development and preparation of publicity and marketing activities for the new company products.
The achievements reached during the first seven months of implementation were:
Mozambique: Groundnuts: 80MT of FT groundnuts worth $74,000 exported between August to November 2006. Of this 18MT were of organic FT nuts and 62MT were of conventional FT nuts. An additional 18MT of organic FT nuts were exported in January 2007.
Cashew: Contracts have been signed for the delivery of 70MT during the first half of 2007.
Malawi: No FT exports taking place yet since the development of a traceable quality management system has caused delays. This has now been addressed and a rapid aflotoxin testing system is in place. 
Left: Peanut farmer Rosemary Kadzitche of Malawi whose story can be read 47.6 Kb
South Africa: Macadamia: 18MT of Macadamia exported on a trial basis with more expected to follow.
South Africa is also an export market for non FT groundnuts and cashew from other countries in the region. Although current FT exports from the region have been destined for markets in Europe, opportunities for FT market in South Africa are being explored.
Tanzania and Zambia:
No exports yet, however developmental work is ongoing for future exports of groundnuts, macadamia and cashew.
In 2007, sales of fair-trade nuts into European markets have continued to expand with consignments now also going into France, Germany, Austria and Finland in addition to being sold in most of the major supermarkets in the UK (Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsburys, Coop – with Waitrose buying in for early autumn). The Ethical Nut Company (the establishment of which was assisted under earlier phases of the project) has also finalised a brand identity.
Field visits were undertaken by TWIN staff to existing areas in mid 2007 and an investigation into the supply potential for Macadamia nuts from Kenya was carried out. The latter investigation shows that there is no shortage of nuts for processing although quality may be something of an issue. This declined after the purchase of inferior nuts by traders new to the market (who also mixed two different varieties of macadamia) which sadly has also had an impact on the perception by overseas buyers that Kenyan nuts are poor quality. In spite of this, the investigation concluded that there is considerable potential for fairly traded macadamia nuts, particularly in view of the existence of both organisations and farmers which would support the development.
Meetings were held in Nairobi with organisations who could assist with the expansion of quality groundnut seeds into Southern and Eastern African countries and increased market access for smallholder farmers. Representatives of a Malawi growers’ organisation attended the London meeting of the Inernational producer Cooperative (IPC) and was thus able to share experiences with Latin American and Indian producers.
TWIN Progress Report 237 Kb