ACA Quality & Sustainability Seal Program Expanding Across West Africa

After the approval of Tolaro Global as the first seal approved factory in Africa in May 2012, five new processors have begun implementing the program. They include Anatrans SARL, a Burkinabe processor, Afokantan Benin Cashew, Cajou Espoir of Togo, and Mim Cashew, located in the Brong-Aharo region of Ghana.

Five processors have begun Seal implementation since Tolaro Global was approved in May. The ACA Quality & Sustainability Seal is an industry-supported mark the signals the processor’s compliance with international food safety, quality, and labor standards.   For some cashew processors the driving force behind seeking to implement the Seal has come from cashew buyers.  “We feel the push from the buyers is instrumental in getting processors to adopt the ACA Seal program,” explains ACA’s Seal Coordinator Gillian Epule.  

Cashew buyers are not the only driving force encouraging African processors to adopt the ACA Seal program.  The Nigerian processor Food Processing Co. Ltd. (Food Pro) recently signed on to implement the ACA Seal and has taken the initiative to adopt the program because it will allow them to demonstrate that their cashew kernels are up to international quality standards.  “Food Pro understands what they want and the market requirements to achieve their goals,” said Epule.  “Adopting the ACA Seal will set Food Pro cashew products apart.”  Food Pro in Nigeria was first introduced to the Seal program at the 6th Annual ACA Conference in the Gambia last year.  ACA will be conducting a preliminary inspection of Food Pro facilities after the annual conference in September.

The expanding implementation of the ACA Seal in West Africa indicates the program’s success in this region. The ACA Seal team now will now be turning its attention to mobilizing cashew processors in East and Southern Africa, with visits to Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique in August.