A La Moda

Posted - September 1, 2007

‘A la Moda’ Goes International

O.W.N. News Network - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2007

A LA MODA, a unique promotional campaign for the organic Spanish olive oil from Andalusia, has hit the international runway. Dressed up in “haute couture”, eight beautiful bottles from some of the best organic olive oil producers from Andalusia are ready to be introduced to other European countries.

The project, whose title means “in fashion”, started in 2005 with an invitation to Spanish fashion designers to create labels for these bottles of the best organic olive oil producers in the region. Inspired by the Andalusian landscape, each designer presented a unique colorful label in a stylish bottle. The bottles have been a great package with which to portray organic olive oil as a high quality gourmet product.

A LA MODA started as a joint initiative of CAAE , non-profit organization for the promotion of organic certified farming and livestock production and the Spanish Association of Fashion Designers. Early in the summer CAAE announced the incorporation of A LA MODA as an association specially designed for promotional activities on behalf of organic oils producers beyond the Spanish border. “We saw in A LA MODA a project that could evolve into a marketing umbrella for the continued promotion of our oils in the international market,” says Arantxa Sanchez of CAAE.

A LA MODA indeed turns out to be a great way to enhance both food and fashion, two of Spain´s strongest sectors.

CAAE is a non-profit organization for the development of organic certified farming and livestock production. CAAE aims to bring together those with an interest in the organic food sector to promote and spread the values of organic production. In addition, the organization organizes campaigns, develops standards to foster these organic markets, and encourage the availability of organic food for consumers. For more info: www.caae.es

Cocoa

Posted - September 1, 2007

Sweet News About Cocoa

By Suzanne Bowness - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2007

With the worldwide concern about rising obesity, you might be afraid that the days of guilt-free indulgence are over. Yet while candy may be in decline, sales of organic and fair trade chocolate are on the rise as consumers seek healthier ways to satisfy their sweet tooth.

According to Packaged Facts, while non-chocolate candy sales grew by seven percent between 2005 and 2006, the market is only expected a four percent growth in 2007. An industry study shows organic chocolate is the largest growing snack segment in the U.S. market, tallying a 49 percent increase in sales in 2006. Growth is happening in other parts of the world as well. In the UK, market leader Green & Black’s has experienced sales growth from £10m to £50m in the last four years.

Integrating health, wellness, ethical and environmental concerns in the merchandising of chocolate lines has helped organic chocolate producers increase sales, especially among baby boomers and LOHAS consumers.

Peru, now the second largest organic certified cacao bean producer in the world, has taken an active part in this boom. In an August 2007 report, Javier Martinez, of the organic products division at PromPeru, the country’s export promotion agency, said that cacao production in the country increased 114 percent in 2006. Exports account to US$2.5 million, amount to be surpassed in 2007. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, between 2002 and 2006, export sales by small farmer cooperatives in Peru have increased at an annual 31.6 percent.

So is chocolate really that good for you? Today repeated studies are revealing that dark chocolate contains natural flavonoids with antioxidant properties that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Organic chocolate often has a higher amount of cocoa, without artificial flavors or colors. Green and Black’s 100g organic chocolate bar, for instance, has a cocoa content of around 70 percent, while milk chocolate has a typical cocoa content of around 20 per cent. Cacao is also rich in B1, B2 and D vitamins, magnesium and iron.

Ethical issues are also making organic chocolate a sweeter choice. Often organic chocolate is also fair trade certified, which means that farmers have been paid a sustainable wage for their work, and no child labor is used, other elements for the consumer to feel good about. In terms of taste, chocolate companies like Dagoba are experimenting with chocolate infusions to incorporate sophisticated flavors like lavender and lime.

Good for your health, good for the growers-no wonder people are feeling fine about a little chocolate indulgence these days.

Aprainores Cashews

Posted - February 1, 2004

Cashew-Nut Producer Aprainores Quadrupled Export Capacity

By Staff - Organic & Wellness News - as printed in O.W.N. Spring 2004

Aprainores, an association of 69 producers of organic cashew-nut seeds from El Salvador, begins now to cash in the fruit of their joint effort. Their activities began in 1995 with funds from the EU, Oxfam and other organizations as a way to promote sustainable rural and social development in the area of Bajo Lempa, which was severely affected by civil war and natural disasters.

Certified by BCS of Germany, Aprainores has been successfully producing and exporting whole, halves and pieces of cashew-nuts since 1998. Exports are offered to the EU, mostly to Rapunzel in Germany and other accounts in the UK and Belgium.

“We offer the small enterprises training and assistance in systems and standards of quality control, because they need to understand the importance of reliability and meeting delivery times”, stated Carlos Vargas, Oxfam GB coordinator for market access in Central America and the Caribbean. “Aprainores is a great example of social sustainability and teamwork, while protecting the environment and offering all workers the opportunity of being part of the process, the goals and the results”, he added.

The producers receive 40% of the gains, people at the processing plant get 30% and those responsible for the trading activities receive the balance. The majority of workers at Aprainores are women, working conditions meet the requirements of fair trade and the processing plant meets the HACCP standards.

“At Aprainores, there is a feeling of belonging and coworkers feel rewarded for their laborious and responsible attitude that reflects in the company’s steady growth”, stated marketing manager Camila Flores. “Each year, our production and export volume gets better. From only five metric tons of product at the beginning, in 2003 we exported a volume of 20.3 tons”.