Eden's Baobab smoothies make the news

The UK Daily Telegraph reports on the PhytoTrade Africa / Eden Project partnership as visitors at the Rainforest Biome find a rather unusual refreshment...

Entrepreneur breaks ground with Baobab products

Speciality Foods of Africa has set a new benchmark for Southern Africa's natural products industry by bringing Baobab products, wild fruit jams, herbal teas and a range of cosmetic oils including baobab, marula and mafura butter to the market. Managed by Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Nyarai Kurebgaseka, Baobab is the key focus of the Speciality Foods range.

"We really see Baobab as the next big thing" said Nyarai when we caught up with her in Harare recently. "We have a fantastic baobab tissue oil, the unique "Baobar" cereal bar and absolutely delicious baobab jam" she said. "There has been steady growth in the marketplace as more consumers become aware of these natural products" she continued. "We are working on a whole new range of exciting products including fruit juices, yoghurt, muesli, sweets and ice lollies. Our long term strategy is to diversify the range of products on offer so we can really ramp up volumes of natural products purchased from rural communities so we can really make a difference to their livelihoods" said Nyarai.

Baobab open for business

In the September issue of Soft Drinks International, the leading trade magazine declared Baobab open for business! Following the Novel Foods approval be the EC in 2008, the superfruit is now commercially available. Impag, the Organic Herb Trading Company and Plantextrakt are to be distributors, see Baobabsuperfruit.com for more information.

Natural product harvesters feature in Development magazine

What a pleasure to see the happy faces of four PhytoTrade Africa suppliers in this month’s edition of “Development”, the journal of the Society for International Development. This month, the magazine focuses on Sustaining Local Economies, and it includes some familiar stories and faces from Southern Africa. Khelina from Swaziland has used income from marula to support her extended family, while Betha in Zambia has been able to purchase two cows to help plough her fields, from harvesting mongongo. Check out the article to find out how Esnati has benefited from baobab in Malawi and how much Hileni’s life in Nambia has changed since she started trading marula.

Baobab make National Geographic

Pop down to your local magazine store and read about our baobab in National Geographic this month!