The PhytoBlog

IFAD awards PhytoTrade Africa grant

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:11:00 +0000

PhytoTrade Africa is very pleased to announce the approval of a new long
term Large Grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD), based in Rome. This grant covers the ongoing development of
PhytoTrade Africa's key activities in the southern African sub-region,
including the development of the Baobab, Devil's Claw and Mafura industries.

Reflecting the Association's ongoing commitment to ensuring that this trade
in indigenous plants is environmentally sustainable as well as commercially
viable, there is a further emphasis on business services as well as ongoing
market development.

John Cheesmond, PhytoTrade Africa's CEO said that "we are delighted that
IFAD, which has provided support for PhytoTrade since its inception in 2001,
has the continued confidence to maintain its investment with the Association
and the sector. PhytoTrade's ongoing commitment to improving the livelihoods
of poor rural producers through the sustainable and ethical trade in
indigenous plants has a clear influence on this decision."

Geoffrey Livingston, IFAD's Regional Economist for East and Southern Africa,
expressed his pleasure in the ongoing support provided by IFAD for
PhytoTrade. "This new facility for PhytoTrade reflects the strength of the
relationship that has been built up with the Association over the years and
the confidence within which IFAD sees its objectives being achieved in the
future".

WildFoods receives HACCP certification

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:53:00 +0000

WildFoods receives HACCP certification - http://eepurl.com/kh7Qz

Eden's Baobab smoothies make the news

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:48:00 +0000

The UK Daily Telegraph reports on the PhytoTrade Africa / Eden Project partnership as visitors at the Rainforest Biome find a rather unusual refreshment...

Entrepreneur breaks ground with Baobab products

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:21:00 +0000

Speciality Foods of Africa has set a new benchmark for Southern Africa's natural products industry by bringing Baobab products, wild fruit jams, herbal teas and a range of cosmetic oils including baobab, marula and mafura butter to the market. Managed by Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Nyarai Kurebgaseka, Baobab is the key focus of the Speciality Foods range.

"We really see Baobab as the next big thing" said Nyarai when we caught up with her in Harare recently. "We have a fantastic baobab tissue oil, the unique "Baobar" cereal bar and absolutely delicious baobab jam" she said. "There has been steady growth in the marketplace as more consumers become aware of these natural products" she continued. "We are working on a whole new range of exciting products including fruit juices, yoghurt, muesli, sweets and ice lollies. Our long term strategy is to diversify the range of products on offer so we can really ramp up volumes of natural products purchased from rural communities so we can really make a difference to their livelihoods" said Nyarai.

Baobab open for business

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:30:00 +0000

In the September issue of Soft Drinks International, the leading trade magazine declared Baobab open for business! Following the Novel Foods approval be the EC in 2008, the superfruit is now commercially available. Impag, the Organic Herb Trading Company and Plantextrakt are to be distributors, see Baobabsuperfruit.com for more information.

Natural product harvesters feature in Development magazine

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:40:00 +0000

What a pleasure to see the happy faces of four PhytoTrade Africa suppliers in this month’s edition of “Development”, the journal of the Society for International Development. This month, the magazine focuses on Sustaining Local Economies, and it includes some familiar stories and faces from Southern Africa. Khelina from Swaziland has used income from marula to support her extended family, while Betha in Zambia has been able to purchase two cows to help plough her fields, from harvesting mongongo. Check out the article to find out how Esnati has benefited from baobab in Malawi and how much Hileni’s life in Nambia has changed since she started trading marula.

Baobab make National Geographic

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:03:00 +0000

Pop down to your local magazine store and read about our baobab in National Geographic this month!

New CEO at PhytoTrade Africa

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:55:00 +0000

It was a pleasure meeting incoming CEO John Cheesmond at PhytoTrade Africa’s annual general meeting in Gaborone last week. John brings a wealth of private sector trade and investment experience, and lives conveniently near our friends at the Union for Ethical BioTrade in Switzerland. Welcome to the team, John!

On the flip side, we were sad to see Gus Le Breton officially handover the helm of PhytoTrade Africa, although he’s not going far – since he’s starting up a Kigelia cosmetic venture we’re bound to bump into him from time to time.

Great news for marula and baobab fruit harvesters

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:12:00 +0000

There's great news for African communities that harvest wild marula and baobab fruit, thanks to the development of new fairtrade standards that have been announced by the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). Phytotrade Africa worked with FLO and Fairtrade for nine months to undertake the fast track FLO certification process for baobab and marula, to ensure that communities could benefit from fairtrade certified products.

We caught up with Marianna Smith, who heads up certification at PhytoTrade and asked for her comments on the outcome of the process.. With a big smile she told us,"PhytoTrade is thrilled with the new direction of fairtrade standards. Wild harvesters are so often the most exploited group in any trade chain. Through FLO Fairtrade standards for wild harvested products from Southern Africa, this is addressed and it serves as a guideline for traders in the North to put an end to exploitation of these harvesters."

The new standards will make a huge difference to wild food harvesters as it sets minimum prices for baobab and marula products. In addition, fairtrade certified buyers will pay a premium on top of market prices for each kilogram of baobab and fruit that will be used for fair-trade products. Marianna explained that these premiums "can be used for improving the livelihoods of the entire community, and not just the harvesters."

'Very large confectioner' in baobab trial

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Wed, 26 May 2010 11:20:00 +0000

Product developers at a "very large confectionery company", a smoothie maker, a babyfood manufacturer and several cereal bar makers are conducting trials of products containing powder from baobab pulp. Read more at confectionerynews.com

Fair Trade Fortnight in Australia and New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:13:00 +0000

Fair trade Fortnight is underway from 1 – 16 May in Australia and New Zealand, with consumers being challenged to swap their everyday purchases for fair trade alternatives. The fair trade sector has grown in this region: in 2009 retail sales in Australia exceeding $36 million, up from $23 million in 2008. Manufacturers are responding to growing consumer interest in Fair trade, and a number of leading Australian companies have launched new products or committed to fair trade swaps themselves.
During the launch of the fortnight, two of Australia’s national law firms were awarded Fair Trade Workplace status for committing to exclusively use Fair trade certified hot beverages in their offices. A leading supermarket, Coles recently announced that they are extending their product range to include a further eight fair trade tea and coffee products. The Wild Bean Café committed to launch Fair trade hot chocolate in their outlets across the nation by the end of 2010.
These measures illustrate growing corporate commitment to the fair trade sector in the region.

M&S pledges to be world's most sustainable retailer by 2015

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:39:00 +0000

UK retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has announced ambitious plans to become the world's most sustainable retailer by 2015, launching a package of 80 new commitments to strengthen its sustainability strategy called "Plan A". M&S is one of the world's largest retailers, with 21 million customers in 40 territories.

The company aims to modify 50% of its 2.7 billion food, clothing and home products to ensure they boast at least one sustainable or ethical feature such as being fair-trade, organic, free range or containing sustainably sourced ingredients by 2015. By 2020, M&S's entire product range will include one of these features.

The "Plan A" new proposals will change the way M&S works with its suppliers, particularly those in developing countries. Following a successful pilot in Bangladesh, M&S has announced it will set a "living wage" and take action to ensure clothing suppliers in countries such as Sri Lanka and India pay this wage to their workers.

M&S will also work with suppliers to improve productivity and management practices, provide training and education programmes, and to help the creation of 200 "Plan A" factories with ethical or environmental features. In addition M&S will support 10,000 farmers who produce our fresh foods to join their sustainable agriculture programme.

Baobab and goji superfood smoothie launched at Natural and Organic Show this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:12:00 +0000

A baobab and goji superfood smoothie will be launched by Soaring Free Superfoods at the Natural and Organic Show in Cape Town this weekend (19-21 February 2010). PhytoTrade Africa will exhibiting and promoting baobab, marula and devil's claw products at the show. Why not come to the PhytoTrade Africa stand (F27) to taste a baobab cereal bar, try our delicious egg-free Bayonaise (mayonnaise with baobab fruit) or indulge in a little baobab curd, prepared by Cape Town Chef, Oded Schwarz. We'll also have marula sweets from WildFoods of Botswana. You can get directions to the show from the Natural and Organic Show web site. There is still time to register for PhytoTrade Africa's breakfast seminar on Natural Product Development for local and Export Markets on Saturday 20th February at 9am, contact Marianna

UK Fair Trade fortnight provides opportunity for better sales

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:25:00 +0000

Next week, sees the launch of the UK and Ireland's annual Fairtrade Fortnight, which will be held from 22 February to 7 March 2010. During a two week period, the Fairtrade Foundation spearheads a national campaign to promote fair trade. This year, consumers are being urged to join in "the Big Swap", swapping their usual purchases to fair trade branded versions (for example, instead of buying their usual brand of jam, they could switch to Yozuna's fair trade baobab jam).

In the UK, some 4500 products bear the Fairtrade Mark, including food and beverages, clothing and linens, flowers, cosmetics and even footballs.

Fairtrade Fortnight has a strong record of success to date. First established in 1997, in early years the main goal was to ensure that retailers stocks fair trade products: now almost every supermarket in the country has fair trade items, and many of them will conduct special activities and promotions to mark the event, improve product visibility at point-of-sale, give customers access to more fair trade items and to improve sales.

Recently, the focus of Fairtrade Fortnight has shifted to educating consumers about the benefits of fair trade, and to encourage them to discuss fair trade and to buy fair trade products. In 2009, 11,000 events were held during Fairtrade Fortnight, reaching 17.7 million people.

The UK currently leads the way in fair trade retail. A survey conducted in September in 2009 documented that recognition of the Fairtrade Mark had risen to an all-time high of 72%. As reported in "UK Fair Trade Sales Dramatically Increase", despite the tough economic climate, UK consumers are spending more on fair trade products than ever before and sales are expected to jump by an average of 20% during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Fairtrade fortnights are also held in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Fab Baobab starter recipe

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:59:00 +0000

This is a great starter from the Yozuna kitchen.

Baobab Jam with Melted Camembert and Caramelised Onions

Serve with fresh bread of your choice, rocket or plain salad leaves. Dip bread in melted camembert and Enjoy!

Prep time: 7 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

2x Sprigs of Rosemary
2x Large Bay Leaves (Fresh or Dried)
2x Large Onions
1x Camembert in a box
Balsamic Vinegar/Black Pepper/Sea Salt
Baobab fruit jam (Get this from Yozuna!)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 7. Unwrap the cheese & discard wrapper.
Take a piece of foil large enough to wrap the entire camembert & and place into the box. Now place a sprig of rosemary & a bay leaf on the foil in the bottom of the box.
Spread Yozuna Baobab jam all over the camembert & return cheese to its lined box. Add freshly ground pepper. Press sliced garlic into the cheese with remaining sprig of rosemary & bay leaf. Fold in foil/greaseproof paper to cover the top of the camembert, close lid and wrap entire box with foil.
Drizzle oil into a baking tray. Slice onions into rings & place in the tray. Season with sea salt. Add copious amounts of balsamic vinegar to the onions & mix well. Place on the top level of the oven.
Put the boxed cheese on a baking sheet/tray in the middle of the oven and bake with the onions for 20-25 mins. Ensure the onions are nicely caramelised and the camembert has melted!

UK Fair Trade Sales Dramatically Increase

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:27:00 +0000

The latest Ethical Consumerism Report 2009, published in December 2009 by the Co-operative Bank, reports that sales of ethical products have tripled during the last decade in the UK. Despite the recession, the ethical market reached £36 billion in 2008, rising from £13.5 billion from 1999.

Fair trade product sales have shown the most dramatic growth: rising from £22 million in 1999 to £635 million in 2008, an increase of over thirty times. The Report predicts that during 2010, fair trade purchases will break the £1 billion barrier in the UK.

Clearly, UK consumers are increasingly recognises the importance of ethical issues when making purchases. The report notes that in 2008, one in every two UK adults stated that they have purchased a product primarily for ethical reasons, compared to one in every four in 1999.

More Baobab news

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:48:00 +0000

The UK Daily Express ran a story on our fab superfruit! Read it here.

New Accredited Partners product showcase

noreply@blogger.com (WebMasterT) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:17:00 +0000

We've just finished building the Accredited Partners showcase. Take a look here and tell us what you think.

Baobab stimulates the good bacteria

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:21:00 +0000

Read the Elle UK article on Diet and Fitness here.

Our new Ximenia video

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Busy time at the Natural and Organic Products Show

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:15:00 +0000

We've got winners for our awards! Township Trades has won the 2009 Natural Product Award (read more here). And Sarah Venter of Eco Products won the Best in Show award. We'll have more from Sarah soon.

New Video on YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:15:00 +0000

Put together by Oxfam:

new organic marula ingredient launched

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Welford) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:42:00 +0000

We're really excited at PhytoTrade Africa, because our commercial partner Aldivia has launched a new cosmetic ingredient using organic marula oil from our members. It's an organic marula surfactant (the stuff that makes your shampoo bubbly) in Aldivia's new Viatenza range. Surfactants help to break down oil and are used in all sorts of foaming cleansing products such as face washes and shampoos. The exciting thing about this one is that it's organic! All Aldivia's Viatenza surfactants are made using 'green chemistry', meaning that no petrochemicals or solvents are used. The whole process leaves behind a limited carbon footprint. They have been certified organic by ECOCERT and also in line with the requirements of Cosmos, the soon-to-be-launched European organic standard.

Award winners are an inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (PhytoBlog) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:07:00 +0000

Every year the PhytoTrade Africa awards remind us just how much incredible work is being done by southern African people to develop natural products ethically and sustainably. This year was no exception. We are delighted that the judges picked WildFoods of Botswana, and its director Frank Taylor, to win the 2008 Natural Product Award. For many years Frank has inspired us by dedicating himself to a business that both uplifts local communities and cares for the environment. His new range of innovative products is attracting well-deserved interest from the likes of Air Botswana and we hope that the R20,000 award will help him move on to even greater achievements. Congratulations too to Red Cedar of South Africa which won our Best In Show Award and the prize of R10,000 at the Natural & Organic Products Exhibition in Cape Town. Red Cedar is run by a team of six previously unemployed women from Wupperthal. The business, started as a USAID-funded Black Economic Empowerment project, is now a thriving concern producing very high quality, beautifully packaged rooibos products. We wish them every success. It is always good to hear from previous award winners about how the award has helped them to move their businesses forward. Last year, Elephant Pepper won the Natural Product award for its Baobab Gold Chilli Sauce. Elephant Pepper director Loki Osborn says, ‘While the media coverage of our award win helped to excite distributors about our products, the prize money enabled us to promote our sauce and ride the wave of European interest in baobab. We’ve also used the cash to bring forward the development of new products. ‘The award came at an important time for us and the continued support from Phytotrade Africa has helped us both on a technical level and in marketing and promotion as well.’

Baobab buzz...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Welford) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Work is progressing to get baobab fruit pulp powder and extract certified as "generally recognised as safe" (GRAS) by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). A dossier will submitted soon and the GRAS certification - expected in around six months - will be central to us marketing baobab successfully as a safe food ingredient in the US. Again with eyes on the US market, our market development manager Cyril Lombard and Chief Exec Gus Le Breton will be heading to the States for the Supply Side West trade show in Las Vegas, October 22-24. "This is the world's largest exhibition of healthy and innovative ingredients, so a really important opportunity for us," says Cyril. "We'll be focusing on generating US commercial interest in baobab and devil's claw." Meanwhile in London, July's publicity blitz has resulted in a surge of manufacturer enquiries about baobab fruit pulp. Billy Smith, marketing manager at our commercial partners Afriplex, will fly to London in October to join PhytoTrade Africa's Rosie Abdy Collins at a series of meetings with interested companies. We can't mention them here (for obvious commercial reasons) but they include some top names and we're confident that the UK's first baobab products will soon be in the pipeline.