BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews

Subject: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Maryrrf
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 11:29 AM

Some of you may know that I have been involved for years in sourcing and importing cashews (they don't grow in the United States - they are imported mostly from India, Vietnam and Brazil). My business partner and I have been urging the industry to start taking responsible sourcing seriously. Conditions, both hygienic and working conditions, in many cashew factories are simply unacceptable and should not be tolerated or supported. Unfortunately our outspoken stance has gotten us into difficulty and has proven to be very costly to us professionally. Let's just say that many of the big importers and roasters would prefer a "don't ask, don't tell" position.

Anyway, about a year ago we decided to tackle the issue ourselves and set up a certification agency so that importers and roasters could be certain they were getting responsibly sourced cashews. Here's a link to our website Cashew Concern Certification Mostly we got doors slammed in our faces, but there is a small Virginia company that supported us from the get go, and that was Feridies . Feridies has teamed up with a Richmond based charity called Chldren Incorporated (much like Save the Children but without the religious component)and is offering a can of deluxe cashews - $1.00 of every sale goes to Children Incorporated. I've put a write up about it on my Folk Music Society website HERE . I don't make any money off these sales, but I was involved in setting up the inspection and certification of the Brazilian facility, coordinating the roasting of the cashews, etc. and I really want this project to succeed. So, IF you are looking for a gift for a friend or business acquaintance that has everything, consider sending a can of these cashews.   They were processed at a fine Brazilian facility that maintains good manufacturing and safety practices and treats their workers decently. And I really want Feridies to do well with this line. Frankly they were one of the few companies that really seemed to care about where their cashews came from.   You've probably never given much thought to cashews (I didn't before I became involved in the nut importing industry) but the shelling is a very labor intensive process, made more difficult because within the cashew shell there is a noxious liquid (kin to poison ivy) that can burn the workers hands and makes the job extremely unpleasant.

Feel free to forward the link to your friends and family!

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: maeve
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 11:37 AM

Good for you, Mary. If I could I'd order several cans. Since I can't, I'll spread the word.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: skipy
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 11:52 AM

Cashew nut is regarded as lost crop in the content of agricultural produce of Nigeria despite its industrial and export potentials. The major by-product of cashew nut is the liquid from the pericarp known as cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). (CNSL) is one of the sources of naturally occurring phenols. CNSL is amber-colored, poisonous, viscous oil obtained from the by-product shells of the cashew nut by extraction. It is often considered as the better and cheaper source of unsaturated phenols. CNSL has innumerable applications in polymer based-industries, such as friction linings, paints, vanishes, laminating resins, rubber compounding resins, polyurethane based polymers, surfactants, epoxy resins, wood preservatives (Dupont et al., 1991). It offers much scope and varied opportunities for the development of other tailored polymers. More so, resins based on the reaction products of cardanol, phenol and formaldehyde are used to improve the resistance of rubber articles to cracking and ozone degradation.
Cut & paste.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Art Thieme
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 03:27 PM

CASHEWS!!!

Cover your mouth---and here's a Kleenex for you.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 05:22 PM

Oh, Art! **BG**

Thanks, Mary. I didn't know you were involved in such a thing and I love cashews. I have bookmarked Feridies' site and will buy some cashews when I have a little extra money. Good luck to you and them!

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: M.Ted
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 05:46 PM

Some of the large retailers now have premium house branded merchandise--Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Safeway come to mind, and they also express concern about responsible resourcing--curious to know if any of these are aware of your work, and particularlly curious to know if any have brushed you off.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:17 PM

It looks interesting. Are the farmers also Fair Trade or just the factory workers?

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Tyke
Date: 14 Nov 08 - 06:47 PM

I seem to remember a TV documentary one of the subjects was Cashew Nut. I thought that the program stated that Cashew Nuts only grew in one African Country.
The Government of that Country imposed a Tax on the unprocessed Nuts being exported. This kept the processing of the Cashew Nuts in the countries factories and employment was created through out the country.

Along came international Free trade who said if this Tax which in their view was impediment to Free Trade, (The Tax on unprocessed Cashews that is) was removed. The price received for the Countries Crop of Cashew Nuts would increase. This would make it possible for the country to borrow Money to build new hospitals and schools etc.

The Tax was removed and the price of Cashew Nuts increased, The Factories in that country could now no longer afford to buy the unprocessed Nuts. Once those factories had closed the price of Cashews fell. This left hundreds to loose their jobs and the countries Government with no money to pay back the loans that they had taken out.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Maryrrf
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 10:07 AM

Thanks to all for the response. Forwarding the link is good. I don't think most people are even aware of where cashews are sourced. In answer to M Ted, we have attempted to make contact with all the big cashew buyers and roasters but have received no response. It's hard to believe that their cashew buyers are not aware of us though. We have spoken about this at nut industry conventions and actually have become notorious rather than appreciated - the attitude has generally been that it's better not to open a can of worms and just keep quiet about where cashews come from.

E barnacle - Our project only involves the processing factories because at this point there would be no practical way for us to trace the cashews from the farmers. That would simply be beyond our scope right now.   Actually, a lot of cashews aren't really farmed, they grow wild and are gathered and brought to a processing plant (especially in India). Neither India, Vietnam nor Brazil is self sufficient in cashews, and all import large quantities of raw seed from Africa. Africa has sporadically attempted to set up a processing industry on its own, but always seems to fall back on just exporting the raw nuts. What Tyke says is true - it happened in Mozambique (but Mozambique is not by any means the only African country to grow cashews). It was a real disaster brought on by the World Bank. We have been in contact with some people in Africa through the African Cashew Alliance mostly located in Benin, who want to set up processing plants. We are encouraging them to do it right from the beginning. It doesn't take rocket science to construct a plant that can operate under good manufacturing practices (provide places for workers to wash, keep cashews off the floor and away from the garbage dump, put in window screens, don't allow animals in the plant, etc.etc. Once some of these plants are up and running, we will probably be able to work with them and get them certified so that they can use this as a marketing tool to help get their cashews into the American market.

Forwarding the info about Feridies to family and friends is greatly appreciated. As I said we have run into a lot of resistance from the industry, but I am hoping that with the new administration food safety and ethical sourcing will become more of an issue. Right now all the big companies seem to be interested in is buying cashews at the lowest possible price.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Fortunato
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 10:14 AM

Maryff,

Greetings and best wishes for you efforts. Susette and I will participate and forward your message.

hello to Maria and Gladys,
chance

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: gnu
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 12:52 PM

CDN$3.50 for Planters (good quality, medium size) 275g here this week. Never seen em so cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Maryrrf
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 01:49 PM

Yes planters has let us know they want nothing to do with certified cashews. They buy cheap so they can sell cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: open mike
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 02:08 PM

i thought they only grew in madagascar...
or some island off the coast of south africa

good for you to initiate this certification
process. yum..cashew butter, i can just
taste it now...


http://www.africancashew.com/countries/facts.php?id=26

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: gnu
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 02:12 PM

Mary... I woulda never knowed... thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Alice
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 04:12 PM

I lived in El Salvador where Maranon trees grow (cashews, or semilla de maranon). Love 'em and I'm glad you've done this work.

I buy raw cashews from my local food co-op, and I think they would be interested in your project.

You can contact them at:
http://www.bozo.coop/

Good job! Thanks for the work you've done.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: kendall
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 04:15 PM

I'm concerned about everything I put in my mouth, and more so if it is imported. I love cashews.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: olddude
Date: 15 Nov 08 - 09:26 PM

Well I love cashews and I will order some
love em love em love em

especially if they are really salty, nothing ever has enough salt
I am a salt a holic along with my other vices

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Fortunato
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 07:55 AM

Kendall this not the time or place, a little decorum please.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: DougR
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 01:41 PM

Fortunato: Say what?

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Maryrrf
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 04:08 PM

Thanks to all for the support!

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: M.Ted
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 09:52 PM

One thing that we, as consumers, can do is to ask our retailers, especially the ones who have "house" about their suppliers. Nice, polite, inquiries, just to let them know that these issues are important to their customers.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Maryrrf
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 09:38 AM

MTed, yes that is absolutely true. As long as the roasters/retailers can get away with it they'll continue to support substandard shippers because they are cheaper. In some cases, it may be only a difference of $.10 or less. We've had people tell us things like "The cashew industry is small and historically we've been under the radar - why stir things up?". If people start asking where the cashews come from, and if they are responsibly sourced, and if they can be traced, then the roasters/retailers would have to take some action.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: GUEST,jhnunez
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 04:10 PM

Great to know about this certification. I own a small family business producing roasted cinnamon nuts to include Cashews and I sell them at special events and festivals. I am working towards selling our product online and at specialty food stores and I believe that buying certified cashews would be one great way of differentiating me from other.

Mary, could you facilitate some contacts for the cashew suppliers in the US. Please reply to [e-mail] because I am not sure if I will be able to locate this forum again.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 10:16 AM

I bought some budget cashews at CVS that were contaminated with Diesel fuel.

Maybe the hold of the ship was what fouled them.

Subject: RE: BS: For US 'Catters who like Cashews
From: Maryrrf
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 11:01 AM

Donel, this may not have been diesel fuel. It may have been a chemical commonly called Chlorophenol. This has been surfacing a lot recently. They aren't sure where it is coming from, possibly from herbicides used incorrectly. There needs to be a thorough investigation, but the industry doesn't want to deal with it.   We published this article on our website on September 9th. We felt it was something that the industry just couldn't keep ignoring. At that time we were employed by a cashew importer. I haven't talked about this on the forum, but we were fired on September 26th. They didn't give us a reason, just said they were closing our branch office. But we dared to talk about something nobody in the industry wanted to get out to the public, so lets just say that we weren't very popular with the powers that be.   So far, there is no evidence of anyone being harmed by the contamination. But the 'off' flavor is there, and people are noticing. Might be a good idea to shoot of an e-mail complaint to CVS and ask them where they get their cashews.