Sustainability

Building Stronger Communities and a Healthier Planet

With over 60 years of leadership in the tree nut market, Richard Franco Agency is dedicated to sustainability and social accountability.

Tree nuts are a vital source of income for small farmers and processors in developing countries, supporting local economies and sustainable agriculture. Rich in plant-based protein and healthy fats, they offer significant nutritional benefits, making them an essential part of diets around the world. By providing expert risk management and logistics solutions, we help ensure the ethical sourcing and efficient distribution of tree nuts, empowering farmers and processors while supporting environmentally responsible practices. Our approach strengthens the entire supply chain, from farm to table, contributing to a more sustainable future for the tree nut industry and the communities it serves.

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SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE FARMING

Sustainable Cashews: Good for the Earth

Cashews offer more than flavor—they can drive sustainable farming practices. By adopting responsible methods, the cashew industry helps both the planet and local communities.

Environmental Impact
Cashews thrive in tropical climates, and sustainable practices like agroforestry and water conservation help protect ecosystems and reduce soil erosion. Rainwater harvesting also ensures efficient water use.

Ethical Sourcing
Ethical sourcing ensures farmers are paid fairly and labor conditions are safe, while promoting environmental responsibility.
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PROTECTING THE AMAZON

Eco-Friendly Brazil Nuts

Harvested from wild trees in the Amazon, Brazil nuts are key to preserving the rainforest and supporting local communities.

Environmental Impact
Brazil nuts are a vital part of preserving the Amazon rainforest. Sourced from wild trees in the heart of the rainforest, Brazil nuts play an essential role in conserving the environment. Sustainable harvesting practices help protect biodiversity and prevent deforestation, ensuring the survival of native wildlife and plant species.

Ethical Sourcing
Ethical sourcing of Brazil nuts directly benefits local and indigenous communities in the Amazon. Fair wages, land rights, and sustainable practices are key to supporting these communities.
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FLAVOR WITH SUSTAINABILITY

Green Macadamias: Ethically Sourced

Macadamias are rich in flavor, but their farming requires careful attention to water use and land management.

Environmental Impact
Macadamia trees need significant water, so farmers use efficient irrigation systems to conserve resources. Sustainable land practices help protect soil and ecosystems.

Ethical Sourcing
Sustainable farming practices go hand in hand with fair wages and safe working conditions.
Supplier Approval Requirements

Our Commitment to Ethical Sourcing and Sustainability

RFA Suppliers Must Satisfy Requirements Prior to Being Approved for Sourcing
Requirements include a full Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HAACCP) plan, prohibited pesticide testing and a code of conduct which affirms that:

  1. No forced or child labor, freedom to unionize, living wages are paid
  2. Working conditions are safe and hygienic, and working hours are not excessive
  3. No discrimination is practiced based on race, gender, nationality, or religion
Preventing Forced/Child and Prison Labor
  • The Richard Franco Agency does not work with any suppliers that use forced, child, or any other form of unlawful labor. All RFA suppliers provide written guarantees to this effect. RFA’s in-country representatives audit processors during regular inspections of facilities and product. Our employees are instructed to report back should they find any evidence of human trafficking, forced labor or unlawful use of child labor either on the premises or in the upstream supply chain.

  • RFA encourages our suppliers to commit to equal opportunity employment without discrimination, to allow workers the freedom of association, and to support the right to collectively bargain.

  • RFA is always seeking to make a more robust ethical code of conduct, and we are working to further integrate it into our existing FSVP Approval System. As suppliers are newly approved or due for renewal in the FSVP Program, they are asked to agree to the updated code.

  • Specifically in Vietnam, cashew factories we work with must commit to the Local Labor Union on not using child labor. These labor unions conduct random inspections every year. Moreover, our Vietnam suppliers attend events on labor standards hosted by ILO, UNICEF, MOLSA Vietnam and VINACAS.

  • In India, our suppliers are implementing programs that require farmers to sign agreements with the processor ensuring they will abide by child labor policies.

  • In the Ivory Coast, to prevent even the slightest possibility of error, some of our suppliers require proof of identification and prohibit entry into their facilities of any person under 18 years.
Deforestation and Farm Mapping
  • RFA and our partners educate farmers on deforestation and scientific agricultural practices. We are always looking for ways to further assist our suppliers in this effort.

  • Our processors have gradually reduced the use of firewood to help mitigate the harmful effects greenhouse gas emissions and reduce deforestation.

  • Registered farmers in India are beginning to plot areas with GPS readings on some of our suppliers’ systems. They have maps showing the location, boundaries, and topography of their farms.

  • Currently, many Vietnamese farmers that supply us product have linked into cooperatives registered with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Department for farm mapping. The program continuously seeks and encourages farmers to register to prevent deforestation and improve farm mapping in the future.

  • RFA is also the leading supporter of Brazil Nut consumption in the USA. Anatomically, Brazil Nuts can only be cultivated in the dense (not semi-cleared) rainforest. As such, Brazil nut consumption represents a significant financial motivation for limiting the cutting of the Amazon rain forest. Higher Brazil nut prices and larger consumption is an important way to reduce rain forest clearing. In addition, Brazil Nut sales create opportunities for cash compensation in regions with minimal opportunities.
Improving Farmer Pay
  • RFA and our partners support a wide variety of cashew farming training initiatives. We have worked closely with our processors to help them understand the partner’s high-quality specifications and understand improvements needed on both the raw material and processing. With that information, our processors are in a unique position to guide local farmers on cultivation and harvesting techniques that result in improved yields and quality, which directly result in increased value and compensation.
  • RFA provides cash advances. These funds allow our supply chain to better compete for raw material early in the harvest (and minimizes the use middlemen), thus helping to drive up the farmers’ prices while improving the outturn and quality.
  • RFA’s cash advances and rapid payments dramatically reduce the cost of capital for our suppliers, thus improving efficiency and turnover, while keeping more money in their pockets.

  • In several countries, our partners provide farmers with free seedlings to support increased planting of high quality trees.

  • One of our partners provides local farmers with free copies of their book, “A Quick Guide to Cashew Cultivation and How to Make Homemade Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides”. We are working on trying to expand this program.

  • Another partner has his in-house agronomists work close with farmers to instruct them on the correct way and best time to plant and care for new trees. The goal is to replace old trees with new ones to increase orchard yield (depending on the species the normal lifetime of a tree is 15 – 30 years).

  • RFA has been a large supplier of CNSL for over 60 years. By helping to support the sale of by-products, we increase RCN’s value, which aids sustainability and farmer pay.
Social Investments
  • RFA promotes and sources as much product as possible from locally owned/operated processors that utilize raw material from local farmers. These processors (in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, and Vietnam) consistently demonstrate a greater commitment to the local supply chain’s sustainability.

  • Through these organizations, RFA has contributed to targeted CSR programs including: daycare operations, hunger prevention, medical care and organic farming techniques. Details on some of these programs:

    • In Indonesia, our supplier conducted mosquito fogging to help reduce illness transmission, held blood donation drives during the Covid-19 pandemic and provided vocational training

    • In the Ivory Coast, the SOLIPS FUND provides financial assistance to employees with total or partial incapacity that renders them no longer suitable for employment.

    • In the Gambia, our RCN partner has helped set up installations of solar water purifiers for farmers.

    • In Kenya, our supplier encourages education by providing support with school fees and uniforms.

    • In Brazil, our supplier supports his employees and their families through employee literacy programs, child education initiatives, retiree support and free dental care.

  • We were a founding stakeholder of the African Cashew Alliance and we are also engaged in discussions to invest in ComCashew’s projects.

  • In 2020, in response to the widespread challenges to farmers in India, RFA contributed to Khalsa Aid International’s humanitarian efforts. (https://www.khalsaaid.org/)
Prohibited Pesticide Testing
Suppliers must ensure that their products are free from harmful pesticides by undergoing regular testing. RFA requires that all products meet strict pesticide standards to ensure the safety of consumers and the environment, aligning with sustainability goals and ethical sourcing practices.
Code of Conduct Affirming Compliance with Ethical Standards
Suppliers must adhere to a code of conduct that affirms their commitment to ethical business practices, including fair labor standards, transparency, and environmental responsibility. This code ensures that all RFA suppliers operate with integrity and uphold the values of sustainability and social responsibility.