A SMALL cooperative on the remote island of Matuku in the Lau Group is reaping the fruits of their labour with the successful launching of their new retail products.
Matuku Organic Farmers’ Co-operative Ltd, consisting of more than 100 farmers from Matuku, recently launched their new retail packaging for organic virgin coconut oil (VCO).
With the high demand of virgin coconut oil for various use locally, the cooperative’s production and wholesale of organic VCO has become a clear income opportunity for the islanders involved.
The cooperative initiated with the initiative — Matuku Island Organic Farming Project (MIOFP) – in a bid to build the production capacity and quality of organic farmers on Matuku.
This was enabled by Loving Islands, a local social enterprise that develops sustainable income opportunities for remote communities in Fiji.
The organic farmers involved also underwent an on-island training sessions on Matuku last year which saw the successful production of their first batch of VCO.
According to Loving Islands founder Litia Kirwin, the newly-launched retail products were sold out on its first day of sales at the Suva ROC market last Sunday.
“Production and wholesale of organic virgin coconut oil has become a clear income opportunity for the cooperative, with monthly sales now contributing over $1100 worth of income directly back to the island’s communities, a total annual income of more than $14,000,” she said.
“The cooperative is looking to further increase production in coming months to extend retail sales of their branded organic virgin coconut oil to local grocery stores.”
Ms Kirwin said they were also currently scoping potential retail markets locally to supply their organic VCO, but would require further research and development.
With current production capacity at 200 litres per month, the co-operative is also being assisted by Loving Islands in terms of product development and sales and marketing.
Ms Kirwin also revaled that they were now looking to further develop their other value-added goods such as cocoa and tapioca flour after the successful retail supply of organic VCO.
This she said, would further build on their marketing bid in Fiji local organic market.
The cooperative has also been supported by the by partners; the US Embassy’s Regional Environment Office in Suva and the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) of the Pacific Community (SPC).
