THE LAFAZA DIRECT DIFFERENCE

Sustainability Through Agroforestry & Direct Trade

Forests Madagascar is home to some of the world’s most unique plants and animals, over 85% of which are found only on the island. The national parks and nature reserves in the island’s north-east contain some of the last intact primary rain forests in Madagascar, and the biological diversity and natural beauty of these areas is truly spectacular. The farmers who grow LAFAZA vanilla are committed to protecting these natural treasures, and their sustainable farming techniques represent this commitment to preserving their forest resources for future generations.
Farmers The superior quality and unique flavors of LAFAZA’s premium Bourbon vanilla beans start with the expertise and dedication of individual farmers. That's why LAFAZA's Malagasy team is central to the success of our model. Many of our partners have been growing and curing vanilla beans in environmentally sustainable ways for over four generations. It’s their expertise and commitment to quality that helps make LAFAZA vanilla products so unique and delicious.
Flavors Madagascar bourbon vanilla is known as the purest-tasting vanilla in the world. LAFAZA's Vanilla is prized for its deeply rich flavor and rich creaminess that sets it apart from synthetic or natural vanilla alternatives on the market today. Vanilla is just the beginning. We're passionate about creating trade models that bring you closer to the wide variety of flavors, sustainably farmed remotely, worldwide.
Forests Madagascar is home to some of the world’s most unique plants and animals, over 85% of which are found only on the island. The national parks and nature reserves in the island’s north-east contain some of the last intact primary rain forests in Madagascar, and the biological diversity and natural beauty of these areas is truly spectacular. The farmers who grow LAFAZA vanilla are committed to protecting these natural treasures, and their sustainable farming techniques represent this commitment to preserving their forest resources for future generations.
Farmers The superior quality and unique flavors of LAFAZA’s premium Bourbon vanilla beans start with the expertise and dedication of individual farmers. That's why LAFAZA's Malagasy team is central to the success of our model. Many of our partners have been growing and curing vanilla beans in environmentally sustainable ways for over four generations. It’s their expertise and commitment to quality that helps make LAFAZA vanilla products so unique and delicious.
Flavors Madagascar bourbon vanilla is known as the purest-tasting vanilla in the world. LAFAZA's Vanilla is prized for its deeply rich flavor and rich creaminess that sets it apart from synthetic or natural vanilla alternatives on the market today. Vanilla is just the beginning. We're passionate about creating trade models that bring you closer to the wide variety of flavors, sustainably farmed remotely, worldwide.

We Do Things Differently

Under conventional vanilla and spice trade models, small-scale farmers often depend on a series of middlemen in bringing their products to market, resulting in low incomes and struggles to meet basic needs.

Farmers face the challenges of accessing reliable market information and of acquiring improved skills related to production and trade.

At LAFAZA, we think of the spice trade in Madagascar a little differently.

We've partnered directly with small farmers via their cooperatives since 2005 to produce and export some of Madagascar's highest-quality natural vanilla.

Our unique direct-trade model allows us to pay farmers a premium price for exceptional vanilla beans, and still provide great value.

The LAFAZA Direct Trade Model

The farmers who grow LAFAZA vanilla use sustainable farming practices that help protect the unique rainforest biodiversity in and around the Mananara-Nord region, on the north-east coast of Madagascar.

Rather than growing vanilla in large, mono-cropped plantations, LAFAZA vanilla comes from independent, small-holder farmers whose dense agroforestry systems act much more like a healthy forest, and less like an industrial farm.

This approach yields vanilla products with a deeply rich flavor and has a very real positive impact on both the forests and the farming communities that depend on them. We like to call this win-win "Flavor With An Impact!"

Creating Sustainable Economic Growth

We are proud to pay our farmers a premium price, invest in their cooperatives, and help build libraries and community centers in the rural forest communities where LAFAZA vanilla is grown.

We believe that these communities deserve long-term commitments from partnerships offering direct market access to consumers of gourmet ingredients around the world.

Our community-based trade model significantly improves upon conventional market relationships.

Working directly with farmer-led organizations, we draw from our expertise and local partners in Madagascar to forge respectful, transparent, and effective relationships with cooperatives to:

• Offer producers more consistent and higher-paying markets for vanilla and other spices.

• Build trusting, empowering relationships in the communities where we work.

• Provide training and skilled employment opportunities, especially for women, who are instrumental in curing high-quality vanilla beans.

• Invest in social development projects including community libraries and resource centers.

• Foster farmer-to-farmer linkages across Madagascar, creating a space for farmers to come together to share their knowledge, questions, and expertise.

A Message From Our Founders