Initiatives | Red River Foods

GAP

Farmer Good Agricultural Programs

We believe in growing alongside the farmers who are the heart of our supply chain. Through our Farmer Good Agricultural Programs (GAP), we work directly with farmers to boost their production, increase their business knowledge, and promote responsible farming practices.

Since 2021, our teams in Ghana, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire have trained over 11,000 farmers in our raw cashew nut sourcing areas. These exercises cover essential topics such as:

Orchard maintenance practices
Harvest & post-harvest techniques
Quality management

These programs are designed to be efficient, effective, and environmentally responsible, helping farmers understand best practices and their impact on the ecosystem. The positive outcomes are evident in improved production systems, higher farm yields, better product quality, and a stronger environment.

Pruning & Thinning

Africa is home to more than 50% of the world’s cashew production. However, a common challenge in these regions is the improper spacing and maintenance of cashew orchards. Overly dense orchards often yield lower harvests and are more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Since 2011, we have been working closely with farmers and local chainsaw operators to address this issue through our Pruning and Thinning program. This initiative focuses on improving orchard management to enhance productivity and resilience.

We’ve expanded this program to a total of 22 communities, where we not only purchase chainsaws and protective equipment, but also train chainsaw operators within each community. The results speak for themselves—serviced farms have seen yield increases from 8 to 15 kg per tree, a testament to the program’s significant impact on both productivity and long-term orchard health.

Beekeeping

We actively encourage and support farmers to incorporate beekeeping into their agricultural practices. This initiative boosts crop yields through enhanced pollination and provides farmers with additional revenue streams from honey, wax, and other hive products.

Typical cashew yields in West Africa average 500 kg/ha (1102 lbs/2.5 acres), which is significantly lower than the global potential of 1000 kg/ha (2204 lbs/2.5 acres). Our beekeeping initiative addresses this yield gap by increasing pollinator presence. This initiative not only benefits the crops, but also provides farmers with life-changing additional income.

In 2021, we launched our first beekeeper training program in Ghana's Agosa and Bonkwae communities. Starting with 10 farmers, we expanded to include 30 more in the second year, leveraging expertise from local master beekeepers. Today, 70 cashew farmers have received comprehensive training and ongoing support. Building on our success in Ghana, we expanded to Côte d’Ivoire in the summer of 2023, supporting 46 new beekeepers in Raviart and Beoumi.

Community Reforestation Projects

Community forests, managed collectively by local communities, are essential for sequestering carbon, promoting biodiversity, and building community resilience. These reforestation projects also provide additional income through the integration of fruit trees and encourage collaboration among community members.

In 2023, we helped a women’s group in Aya Sakassou, Ivory Coast, establish and manage a tree nursery with 9,000 trees. This initiative supported the community forest and created income opportunities for the women involved. During a recent visit, community members discussed the challenges they face, such as changing rainfall patterns and their impact on agricultural cycles. Despite these difficulties, their dedication to nurturing the forest remains strong. These conversations reflect the ongoing effects of climate change on tropical regions and the importance of supporting initiatives that empower communities and protect the environment.

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs)

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) are informal, self-managed groups that provide savings, loans, and mutual assistance to community members who lack access to formal financial services. These groups, which can be either mixed or women-only, empower members by offering financial resources and support that are otherwise difficult to obtain in rural and low-income areas.

Red River Foods began supporting VSLAs in West Africa in 2021. These associations are introduced to existing or newly formed women’s groups, where members contribute dues to create a shared savings pool. This collective fund can be used for loans, enabling members to propose and support income-generating projects. At the end of each cycle, members divide the accumulated funds based on their contributions and can choose to start a new cycle.

VSLAs are more than financial tools; they are catalysts for financial inclusion and community empowerment. By providing a foundation for sustainable projects and financial independence, these associations are making a significant impact in the lives of women and youth across West Africa. Red River Foods is proud to support these transformative efforts.

Collaboration with Junglekeepers

Our collaboration with Junglekeepers is focused on protecting and preserving the rich ecosystems of the Pantanal and Amazon Basin. Junglekeepers are dedicated to stopping deforestation and promoting reforestation in these critical areas. They patrol 77,000 hectares of rainforest in Peru, safeguarding it from illegal logging and mining activities that pose significant threats to these invaluable ecosystems.

In addition to conservation efforts, Junglekeepers engage in the study of the flora and fauna within the Bolivian rainforest. They also educate local communities about the importance of rainforest conservation, highlighting the long-term benefits of protecting these natural resources.

As part of this collaboration, Junglekeepers collect Brazil nuts from the rainforest, where these trees thrive only in healthy, wild environments. We purchase these nuts for processing and distribution in the U.S. market, creating a sustainable economic model that encourages local communities to preserve the rainforest. This partnership supports both environmental conservation and the livelihoods of those who depend on the forest’s resources.

By choosing products like Brazil nuts sourced from these protected areas, consumers contribute to the ongoing effort to save the rainforest and support the communities dedicated to its preservation.

WASH & Nutrition Trainings

Over nine days, we conducted WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and nutrition training in the communities of Ando Simbo, Tayamoukro, and Nianda. These sessions, both theoretical and practical, aimed to strengthen community resilience against water-related diseases and promote better hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition practices within households.

Participants received hands-on training in crucial areas such as:

Understanding transmission routes and prevention methods for malaria and diarrhea
Hand hygiene, including proper hand washing techniques
Correct use and maintenance of latrines
Effective household water management
Food hygiene, focusing on the cleanliness of cooking utensils
Household wastewater management

These trainings provided participants with practical knowledge and reinforced essential skills to improve health outcomes in their communities. The interactive approach encouraged active participation, helping individuals adopt and sustain better practices in their daily lives.

Orphanage Sponsorship

Located less than five miles from our factory, Thien An is an orphanage that provides care for 120 disadvantaged children from the Gia Rai ethnic minority. Our sponsorship efforts focus on supporting around 15 of these children, providing them with essentials such as food, school fees, supplies, and clothing.

In addition to financial support, our team in Vietnam regularly volunteers at the orphanage, helping with daily activities and organizing special “fun” days for all the children. These activities bring joy and a sense of normalcy to their lives, creating lasting memories and reinforcing our commitment to their well-being.

Macadamia Partnership: Exotic EPZ & USAID

We have partnered with a solely woman-owned macadamia processor, Exotic, who began business in December 2012. Specializing in the processing, packaging, and export of macadamia nuts, the company sources directly from over 2,000 small-scale farmers in Kenya. Red River Foods has teamed up with Exotic to expand domestic production and processing, grow U.S. market demand, and significantly scale up the trade relationship between Kenya and the U.S over a three-year period. Exotic and RRF aim to create new jobs along the macadamia nut farming and processing value chain, improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their families, and increase quality and processing standards while providing access to the global macadamia market. In particular, the project aims to increase macadamia nut exports to the U.S., a currently underexploited opportunity.

Explore our Programs

Farmer Good Agricultural Programs (GAP)

Pruning and Thinning

Beekeeping

Community Reforestation Projects

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs)

Collaboration with Junglekeepers

WASH & Nutrition Trainings

Orphanage Sponsorship

Macadamia Partnership: Exotic EPZ & USAID

Macadamia Partnership: Exotic EPZ & USAID