Organic Dried Sliced Mangoes "Brooks" (Certified Fairtrade)

Our organic dried sliced "Brooks" mangoes are imported in small batches from a fairtrade certified cooperative in Burkina Faso. Grown on small plots by dozens of producers, they created their cooperative to process fresh fruits on site and to sell them directly to a few privileged customers. A fruit ripened on the tree and processed at the very place of production is the guarantee of an authentic flavor and the preservation of nutritional qualities.

Brooks is distinguished by a beautiful orange color and a clean flavor. Generally tender, its taste is characteristic of very ripe, freshly picked mango, with pleasant citrus notes. Like a mango orange nectar, it is the perfect balance between the flavor of the sweet tropical fruit with a hint of acidity.

Aside from being one of the most sought after exotic tropical fruits due to its delicious pulp, the mango is considered one of the super fruits. Its impressive list of nutrients is similar to that of a food supplement! It is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that our body needs for protection, development, and proper function.

Dried mangoes are best eaten as snacks. They can also be added to cereals, grains, and salads. For mango lovers living in places where mangoes do not grow naturally, dried mangoes are a viable alternative.

What is the difference between the "Brooks" and "Amélie" varieties?

• Brooks mangoes have a bright orange color and a clean flavor. Generally tender, they are more neutral and less intense with pleasant citrus notes. Like a mango orange nectar, they are the perfect balance between the flavor of the sweet tropical fruit with a hint of acidity.
• Amélie mangoes are less sweet but very rich in flavors. They are dark orange to reddish-brown in color. With strong terpenes that fill the palate and the nose with herbaceous or floral aromas and flavors, sometimes vanilla and lemon.
• To conclude, Brooks is typically more sweet and neutral while Amélie is less sweet but with more intense flavors.

Is it Mangos or Mangoes?

• Short answer to the Mangos vs Mangoes dilemma is that you can use either spelling, and you'll still be correct.
• The Merriam-Webster dictionary does provide its preferred spellings, but ultimately lists either as correct.

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.