The Key Differences Between Organic, "Traceable Conventional", and Conventional Cashews
You may think that cashew nuts are just cashew nuts. And while they look similar when packaged up on the shelf, there are some important distinctions between the three primary categories we will discuss here: organic, traceable conventional, and conventional cashews.
Each type is distinguished by its unique production methods, its level of supply chain transparency, and its cost. Let's look at a brief breakdown before diving deeper into the details:
- Organic cashews are traceable (usually to village level), environmentally beneficial, cultivated using natural farming practices, and certified by recognised organisations, making them pricier than other varieties.
- Traceable conventional cashews offer some supply chain visibility, often adhere to sustainable practices, and are usually priced between the other two categories.
- Conventional cashews, the most common and affordable option, often lack traceability and organic certification.
Understanding these differences is crucial for consumers and producers as the demand for sustainably and ethically sourced products grows. Let's examine what differentiates these cashew categories.
Organic Cashews
Organic cashews are grown and processed without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or other chemicals.
- Natural farming methods: Smallholder farmers use natural techniques to cultivate cashews, resulting in high-quality organic varieties.
- Intercropping and beehives: Intercropping (a form of polyculture in which two or more crops are grown together on the same land) as well as establishing beehives (to enhance pollination) promote healthier cashew growth and create a sustainable, biodiverse environment.
- Certification: Organic cashews require official certification from approved organisations, such as the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) or ECOCERT.
- Price premium: Organic cashews often cost more, sometimes as much as 50% more than conventional cashews.
- There are three different organic categories (from cheapest to most expensive):
- Organic
- Organic Naturland
- Organic Fairtrade
Traceable Conventional Cashews
Traceable conventional cashews are produced using standard farming methods, but with an added layer of transparency in the supply chain.
- Traceability: These cashews can be traced to their source using systems like SAP® Rural Sourcing Management solution.
- Quality control: Advanced machinery and processes are used for sorting, disinfecting, and packaging traceable conventional cashews.
- Sustainability focus: While not organic, traceable conventional cashews are often produced using sustainable practices and local sourcing.
- Certifications: This cashew category may have various certifications related to food safety and ethical practices, such as HACCP, BRC, and SMETA.
Conventional Cashews
Conventional cashews are produced and processed without organic or fair-trade certification.
- Standard farming practices: These may involve synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.
- No traceability guarantee: Unlike traceable conventional cashews, there may be limited information about the cashews' origin.
- Lower price point: Conventional cashews are typically less expensive than organic or traceable varieties because less is invested in their production, traceability and sustainability.
- Variable quality control: The level of quality control can vary depending on the producer and processor.
Cashew Quality in Côte d'Ivoire
In Côte d'Ivoire, the choice between these types of cashews depends on factors such as market demand, price premiums, and the ability to meet certification requirements.
While organic cashews offer the highest price premium with the greatest environmental benefits, traceable conventional cashews straddle sustainability and affordability. Conventional cashews remain the most widely available option, but lack the added value of traceability or organic certification.
At Cashew Coast, We Categorise a Bit Differently
Traceability and transparency are critical at Cashew Coast, and we hold ourselves to very high standards. This means that our categories differ a little from the wider industry:
- Traceable/organic: Traceable to the farm/plantation, i.e., farms that are enrolled in our programme and their plantations that are mapped into our system.
- Conventional simple: We buy directly from farmers, but if they're not enrolled in our program, their plantations won't be mapped onto our system. This means we technically trace back only to the village, but in reality, we know precisely who we buy from (because we pay them directly) and which farms the cashews come from.
- Conventional: We buy a very small quantity of nuts (less than 10%) from third parties when required, usually caused by unforeseen events like weather, government intervention, and market speculation. Even then, we can trace our cashews back to the originating village.
Cashew Coast – Producing Organic Cashews that Benefit All
At Cashew Coast, we've firmly positioned ourselves in the organic cashew camp because we believe it's the best way to create a sustainable and ethical future for the cashew industry. Our commitment to organic practices goes beyond just avoiding pesticides.
We take a holistic approach that benefits our farmers, customers, and the environment.
Better for the Planet
By choosing organic cultivation methods, we can promote biodiversity through intercropping and beekeeping, enhance cashew yields, and create a more resilient ecosystem. Our circular-economy approach, which includes composting cashew apples and using cashew shells to generate energy, allows us to minimise waste and maximise resource efficiency.
Better for Ethics & Food Safety
Moreover, our organic cashews are fully traceable, giving our customers peace of mind about the origin and quality of their food. This transparency, our high food safety standards, and our certifications set us apart in the market. We're not just selling cashews – we're offering a product that embodies our values of sustainability, fairness, and quality.
Better for Our Farmers
By investing in organic cashew production, we're also investing in the long-term well-being of our farming communities. Our demo plantations and tree nurseries are helping farmers adapt to climate change and increase their yields, without expanding into new territories, thus combating deforestation.
Better for the Future
In essence, our position in the organic cashew sector reflects our vision for a better future, in which delicious, high-quality cashews are produced in harmony with nature, supporting local communities and meeting the highest food safety and sustainability standards.
This is the Cashew Coast way, and we're proud to lead the charge in organic cashew production in Côte d'Ivoire.
