How Sunshine Nut Company is Changing Lives for the Better
Sunshine Nut Company, a Certified B Corporation, recently joined the Sahoja ethical marketplace and we love them not just because their cashews are phenomenal (you really must taste them!), but also because their hearts are dedicated to improving the lives of the people in Mozambique, Africa.
We are sharing their blog so you can learn more about the country and the challenges that many are faced with there on a daily basis.
MOZAMBIQUE: OUR HOME
Posted by Forrest Musselman on May 06, 2020
Mozambique is a breathtakingly beautiful country on the Southeastern coast of Africa. The coast is lined with tranquil beaches and the capital city of Maputo is a hectic, developing urban jungle. From North to South, you will find bright colors of “capulana” fabric, noisy “chapas” hailing customers needing public transportation, and of course, cashews.
Though Mozambique’s urban areas are ever-growing, over 75% of the country remains in extremely rural settings. The soil is conducive to significant agricultural productivity but years of drought, floods, insecurity and corruption have forced most farmers to continue to produce on only a subsistence level. While Mozambique used to be the world’s top exporter of cashews, the industry crumbled when the country fell into a civil war lasting two decades after gaining independence from Portugal in 1975. Many other industries in the country followed suit, forcing able citizens to emigrate to neighboring countries to look for jobs. Even to this day, it is common to find families where the father lives in another country with a separate family, and only comes home to visit once a year. This phenomenon has severely damaged the family structure in Mozambique, causing young people in entire villages to grow up without a strong male influence.
However, despite these conditions, cashew farming is one of the most common and reliable agricultural activities for farmers who remain in the village because the Mozambican climate is ideal for the tree’s fruit. For over one million rural farmers, the growth of the cashew industry in Mozambique is crucial to their economic well being. The past few years have shown increased demand for the product, giving rise to a revival of abandoned factories and many more trees being planted.
Once the 3rd poorest nation in the world, Mozambique has recently made strides of economic improvement, but increasing levels of debt continue to hinder significant growth. It has one of the highest birth rates in the world, yet it also maintains a similarly high mortality rate. Over 45% of the population is under the age of 15, and some sources estimate that 10% of Mozambique’s population is orphaned.
It was in these conditions that Sunshine Nut Company planted roots in Mozambique. We celebrate the beauty and small joys of this nation daily, while ensuring every aspect of our business and philanthropic work targets and strengthens the needs of the country we now call home.
Sahoja is grateful to everyone at Sunshine Nut Company for their dedication toward improving the lives and livelihood of Mozambicans. Don Larson is the CEO and founder of Sunshine Nut Company, and with his wife, Terri Larson, they formed The Sunshine Approach Foundation which is a 501 © (3) non-profit charity organization operating in Mozambique, Africa. Terri is the Executive Director and President of The Sunshine Approach Foundation. The Larsons have lived in Mozambique since 2011 and directly oversee the foundation’s activities which focus on making a difference in the lives of the poor and orphaned by supporting and implementing projects that impact their standard of living.
Sahoja members can donate points to the Sunshine Approach Foundation Impact Project to help provide homes and build a stronger community. If you are not a member of Sahoja, then please join us and help spread kindness to people and the planet. When you join, you will receive 10,000 points (that’s a $10 value) which can immediately be donated to an Impact Project. Join us today!
