Committed To Building Strong Local Relationships
From The Field Trading Co. was established in California. The first vanilla bean export of 100 kg was organized and achieved in partnership with a farmer cooperative.
Nat and James began to distribute bulk vanilla beans in the US
LAFAZA Pure Ground Vanilla was created, now our best-selling product.
Launched Pure Vanilla Extract as a new product in the US
Rebranded with the name LAFAZA which helped put a recognizable face on our product line and our sustainability leadership in the industry
The LAFAZA Retail brand was born and export offerings began to expand beyond vanilla into other Madagascar spices
First USDA Organic certification for Vanilla products
Achieved Fair Trade Certification in Madagascar
Achieved Non GMO Verification for all products
In 2005 two LAFAZA co-founders, Nathaniel and Sarah, joined the Peace Corps. They were looking for a new direction and offered up a simple proposition to the world: “World, put us where you will. We are ready to get to work!”
As it turned out, almost halfway around the world, a small group of vanilla and clove growers in Madagascar were making a similar leap of faith about a much more serious matter.
Their rural farming communities were suffering from a lack of basic resources such as medicine, educational materials, and market access for their products.
With the help of a local non-profit organization, the farmers contacted Peace Corps to request volunteer assistance.
The vanilla market had recently crashed, and prices were down over 90 percent from previous years.
Farmers in the region were unable to connect with international markets, and even Madagascar export markets had to be accessed through multiple intermediaries offering below-market prices.
The local cultivation and curing skills were exceptional, the agroforestry systems used by farmers in the region almost unbelievably lush and complex. The vanilla beans were intoxicating in their flavor and aroma.
There had to be a better model... After many long conversations with farmers, a business concept was formed to create a direct-trade model based on fair trade principles to bridge local cooperatives in Madagascar and gourmet markets in the U.S. and Worldwide.
That's when a small vanilla bean sample made its way to Oakland, California to LAFAZA co-founder James Delafield.
He entered the sample into a blind test by a major Bay Area chocolate maker that had formed a panel of experts to review premium ingredients.
LAFAZA's sample was selected as the chocolate maker's top choice among vanillas from around the world.
When they asked how to get more, LAFAZA was born.
Our company has grown from its original village-level roots, but we remain grounded in three founding principles:
