ACA News

by: Allyse McGrath

Based on Dr. Kantha Shelke's Presentation at the ACA World Cashew Festival and Expo 2013

I am here to debunk one of the world’s greatest myths, one that has plagued the minds of hearts of snackers everywhere for years. 

Cashews are NOT unhealthy. I repeat, cashews are not unhealthy.  In fact, cashews...

Sector and Government agencies in Tanzania are shifting their focus to cashew processing as an industry with great economic potential.  Currently, Tanzania produces over 150,000 TPA of RCN, however the current installed processing capacity is less than 20% of this annual crop.  Various stakeholders in the country are taking action to change this deficit in processing capacity in order to meet the country’s large RCN production.  In early November,the Agriculture Non-State Actors’ Forum (ANSAF), in collaboration with other agencies, organized an Investors Conference in the...

The year 2013 was filled with great moments for the African Cashew Alliance. It was very difficult to pick our favorite ones!

January

Condor Nuts signs on for ACA Seal, expanding program in East Africa. They joined Southern Jumbo Cashew, the first East African processor to begin the ACA Seal program.

Miriam Gyamfi was hired as the Marketing and Conference Coordinator. 

February  

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The ACA Quality and Sustainability Seal Program is setting standards for African processors as a way to attract international buyers and to reduce in-factory costs.  As the first internationally recognized “stamp of approval” for cashew nuts, the ACA seal will help bridge the gap between the production line and the consumer’s demands for quality and social benchmarks....

The Managing Director, Roger Brou attended a 2-day cashew workshop, from the 28th-29th of November, dedicated to Africa-Vietnam cashew trading.  The workshop was organized by Vietnam Cashew Association VINACAS and attracted a variety of Vietnamese cashew stakeholders along with Government representatives. Representatives from the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), the Beninese cashew traders association (CONEC), ARECA of Cote d’Ivoire and The Producers and Traders Associations from Guinea Bissau represented the African Cashew industry. The parties...

The African Cashew Alliance has had a busy couple of months. In September, over 350 cashew industry representatives gathered in Accra, Ghana for the 8th annual ACA World Cashew Conference.  Please find below a special report on the conference as well as two conference field trips in Ghana.  Additionally, check in on ACA's Business Advisory Activities, Market Information System, and President, who recently recieved recognition for her work in the cashew industry and with ACA. That and more in the October ACA Newsletter...

350 Gather in Accra, Ghana for The ACA World Cashew...

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On the 5th of September, 2013, Madame Georgette Taraf, the ACA President, was honored as one of Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business...

Unshelling Cashew: Improving Livelihoods