Organic Trader™ purchases the Shea Butter directly from a women's cooperative liaison. The women harvest the Shea Nuts & process them into Shea Butter, using traditional methods that have been handed down over centuries.

The women are paid a premium, fair trade price. Helping women and families from African villages is just one of our social justice ingredient projects. For Organic Trader™ this truly helps to answer the question of "what is beyond organics?".

Forming the Women's Cooperative Group

Their small village is located northwest of Burkina, in the Upper West Region, near the Ivory Coast. Life is very difficult for village residents. During the dry season, the hot, dry Sahara winds blow in down from the desert. There is little cash economy and villagers must grow and harvest enough food and supplies during the rainy season to last them through the long hot dry season. This is hard for everyone, but especially difficult for women whose husband's have died and who still have young children.

In the village a group of these women recognized that by working together they would be better able to support their children and families. They formed the Women's Cooperative Group and set out to identify opportunities to earn income to support their subsistence agriculture activities. The sales of Shea Butter helps the women's group and their families survive and children go to school.

Yes, Your Purchase Really IS Making a Difference!