Organic avocado oil is an essential ingredient in our Organic Lip & Body Balms, providing rich moisturization. Since 2009, we have sourced our Fair Trade and organic avocado oil from the Olivado project in the hilly regions of central Kenya. In this area, where the local avocado market is unreliable, most of the crop is grown by thousands of small farmers, 70% of whom are women.
Olivado established a multi-year project there to educate and train these family farmers in organic, sustainable growing techniques. In cooperation with Dr. Bronner’s, Olivado also applied for and obtained the Fair for Life (Fair Trade) certification from IMO.
The guaranteed market and stable prices have enabled the local farmers to increase their incomes, raising the standard of living for them, their families and their communities. Olivado currently has 1,060 farmers who work over 1,730 acres as part of their Organic and Social Fair Trade program.
The local factory, which was re-built in 2011, now employs approximately 25 full-time workers with up to 80 additional part-time workers at times.