ABOUT US

Just Cashews is a business unit of Earth Hero Inc. To learn more about Earth Hero, please visit http://www.earthhero.org/

Just Cashews is run by a Steering Committee of volunteers. Committee members' primary responsibility is for the fiscal health of the organization, which is accomplished through sales growth and operational stability.

The committee meets at least once a month. All are welcome. To contact a committee member please select from the list below:
Committee Chair: Angelo Tomedi
Vice Chair: Jim Neustel
Operations Manager: Stephanie Roberts



OUR COMMITTMENT

Just Cashews is a member of the Organic Trade Association, the International Federation for Alternative Trade and the US Fair Trade Federation. Just Cashews is a fair trade business defined by the following principles:

    -   Fair Wages
Just Cashews is committed to providing fair wages to farmers by guaranteeing a minimum price per pound all year long, working to increase demand for their products, and working exclusively with democratically-run cooperatives that share revenue and support nutrition and education programs in their community.

    -   Cooperative Workplaces
Cooperatives provide a healthy alternative to large-scale manufacturing and sweatshop conditions where workers are routinely exploited and paid far below a livable wage. Just Cashews is committed to shifting all processing and packaging work to the cooperatives to ensure as many opportunities for income as possible stay within the producing communities.

    -   Consumer Education
Through its retail partners and packing materials, Just Cashews works to educate consumers about the importance of purchasing fairly traded products that support living wages and healthy working conditions. Just Cashews provides information about the producers' history and culture to enhance cross-cultural understanding and respect between consumers and the producers.

    -   Environmental Sustainability
Central America, especially rural Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, have suffered dramatically from deforestation that has led to serious soil erosion with alternating flood and drought conditions. The organically grown cashew trees grow well in poor soil and arid climates and have helped prevent further environmental damage and have contributed to reforestation efforts in the region.

    -   Financial and Technical Support
Just Cashews has committed the following support to its producers - 50% up front payment on all orders; funding of the organic certification process; design and production of all packaging materials; and funding to provide consulting services and training.