Brazil
How is it produced?
Grown from trees in Brazil and other tropical places.
Describe the supply chain to the store shelf in Canada:
Either processed in its country of origin or shipped to countries that specialize in large scale cashew processing like Vietnam. Once the cashew is peeled, a process that releases caustic chemicals from the shell of the seed, it is baked to rid it of any remaining toxins and then it can be sold to traders and exporters that ship it globally
What is the power balance between the producer and seller?
Producers of cashews are not the ones who make the majority of the profits, as many are farmers that employ child labor or exploit prisoners and women for cheap employment costs. Traders and exporters make the majority of the profits when they sell to global markets.
Can you recommend changes to the system to improve the balance?
Encouraging fair trade practices such as equitable wages, better working conditions and a decrease in child labor would make this a more ethical food choice. Holding companies that increase deforestation accountable would benefit the ecological footprint of cashews.
References/Resources:
References
African Cashew Alliance (2018). Fixing the Global Cashew Supply Chain: Processing in Africa the solution? https://www.africancashewalliance.com/en/news-and-info/blog/fixing-global-cashew-supply-chain-processing-africa-solution
Brittanica. (2024) Cashew. https://www.britannica.com/plant/cashew
Demelo, Emma. (2021) Re-think your cheese: The curious case of cashews and the value of fairtrade. https://www.earthsave.ca/blog/re-think-your-cheese-the-curious-case-of-cashews-and-the-value-of-fairtrade/