3021 78th St. Norway, IA 52318
1-844-550-6200 | Mon-Fri 7a–6p CT
1-844-550-6200 | Mon-Fri 7a–6p CT
Roughly 80% of the world’s vanilla is sourced from Madagascar; a country prone to devastating hurricanes and flooding, and extended periods of drought and famine. It’s important for consumers and brands to ask themselves what the impact is of the vanilla they’re putting into their ice cream, coffee, and baked goods. This seemingly simple flavor has a long history of human struggle, and as a company who sources more than half a million pounds of vanilla each year, it’s imperative that we at Frontier Co-op are careful about the impact of our purchases. Moreover, we see it as our co-op’s responsibility to help our partners increase the resiliency of their businesses and their communities by investing in projects at origin.
Frontier Co-op and Virginia Dare encourages vanilla cooperatives to strengthen their financial resilience by using Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), self-managed lending groups that provide inclusive, stable, and independent savings, insurance, and credit services to members.
This project with Frontier Co-op and Virginia Dare, supports young farmers in implementing a regenerative agroforestry model that integrates cash crops like vanilla with subsistence crops, improving food security and income diversification in the region.
For years, Frontier Co-op has collaborated with partners in Madagascar on a variety of impactful projects, from building and running schools to enhancing the resilience of local crops and businesses. In 2021, we embarked on our most significant initiative yet, committing $240,000 over three years in partnership with our supplier, Virginia Dare. This multi-faceted project in the SAVA region, where our vanilla is grown, aims to stabilize and elevate the standard of living for vanilla producers while promoting sustainable and high-quality production practices.
The project is centered around two key components. The first focuses on improving food security and income diversification by supporting young farmers in implementing an integrated, regenerative agroforestry model that combines cash crops like vanilla with subsistence crops. With the backing of the Duke Lemur Center, this approach fosters long-term agricultural sustainability. The second component strengthens financial resilience within vanilla cooperatives by encouraging the adoption of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). These self-managed lending groups, typically consisting of 10-25 members, provide inclusive and stable financial services, including savings, insurance, and credit, empowering local communities to achieve greater economic independence.
Because of this project, not only do growers get more pathways to incremental income but they access them in a way that improves soil health, creates habitat and increases biodiversity.
Frontier Co-op donated $40,000 to dig 49 wells in 38 farming villages in Madagascar that provide our organic vanilla through our Well Earth sustainable sourcing program.
