Organic Raw Cashew Pieces (SWP) (Certified Fairtrade)

Our organic raw cashew pieces are imported in small batches from a fairtrade certified cooperative in Burkina Faso. Cashews are an excellent vegan source of copper, providing more of the mineral than most other non-meat sources. In fact, eating a quarter-cup of cashews every day gives you 98% of your recommended daily intake of copper.

Did you think that going vegan means you have to give up all your favorite creamy foods and desserts? Think again. The rich fat content of cashews (mostly heart-healthy fats!) makes them a perfect substitute for heavy cream. To witness this almost magical transformation for yourself, soak a cup of raw cashews in 1/2 cup water overnight; then, blend the mixture in a food processor until completely smooth, adding additional chilled water to reach the desired consistency. You'll be astonished as to how rich and creamy the result is, and it's nearly indistinguishable from dairy cream, but with a fraction of the fat and calories.

What are the common grades of cashews?

• The most common grades are W320, SWP and LWP.
• For whole cashews (W320) the "W" means both "white" and "whole".
• The 320 is a standard of size. It refers to how many nuts are in one pound. For 320 that is 300–320 pieces per pound. Less common sizes are 210, 240, 320 and 450. The smaller the number the bigger the nuts.
• LWP stands for "Large White Pieces", mostly whole cashews that have split in half.
• SWP stands for "Small White Pieces", mostly broken cashew halves.

What does Fairtrade certification mean?

• Fairtrade products are far more than just fair prices, they create sustainable impact in three interconnected areas: economic, social, and environmental. These are known as the three pillars of sustainability:
• Economic: Fairtrade sets economic Standards for farmers and workers to benefit from income security and financial independence. These include the Fairtrade Minimum Price for most commodities, which aims to provide producers with a safety net against falling prices, along with the Fairtrade Premium that provides producers with additional money to invest as they choose. Fairtrade also emphasizes long-term partnerships that help yield sustainable and decent livelihoods.
• Environmental: Environmental criteria emphasize ecologically and agriculturally sound practices, including responsible water and waste management, preserving biodiversity and soil fertility, minimal use of pesticides, and the prohibition of the use of GMOs. Organic production is promoted and rewarded by higher Fairtrade Minimum Prices for organically grown products.
• Social: Social criteria for small-scale producers include requirements on democratic self-organization, participatory decision-making, transparency, and non-discrimination. For hired labour, our Standards require non-discriminatory employment practices, fair pay, freedom of association, and safeguards for worker health and safety. Forced labour and child labour are prohibited under the Fairtrade Standards.

Who is the Coopake cooperative?

• Located in Orodara, a small urban community nestled in the heart of orchards in western Burkina Faso, the Coopake cooperative was founded in 1963. Today, it spans 800 hectares of orchards and farmland, cultivating and processing mangoes, cashew nuts, sesame, citrus fruits, hibiscus, and shea.
• Coopake's primary goal is to value local resources while preserving the environment and providing employment for hundreds of families.
• The cooperative boasts hundreds of members, agricultural producers who have come together to process and enhance their production, enabling the local community to thrive in one of the world's poorest countries. Today, Coopake owns two processing units that employ nearly 300 people.
• Certified organic for nearly twenty years, the cooperative and its members practice no intensive farming. Instead, they garden and maintain sesame plots interspersed with shea trees, mango trees, cashew trees, and hibiscus plants.
• Coopake, a social economy enterprise, is an indispensable pillar in this community far from major urban centers. In addition to fair wages for producers and good working conditions for employees, the cooperative invests in the socio-economic development of its community through Fairtrade premiums. They develop programs focused on the needs of the population, particularly the most disadvantaged: access to drinking water, food donations, and financial support for the polio victims' association.