In 2015 TRIPPER marked many important milestones… highlighted by the accomplishment of the “Fair For Life” program by IMO, the Cinnamon certification in April and another success in October for our Cloves & Vanilla production, by creating a fair & sustainable watershed.

 
NEWSLETTER ISSUE XVIII: DECEMBER 2015
 

TRIPPER CONTINUES
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

 
 

In 2015 TRIPPER marked many important milestones… highlighted by the accomplishment of the “Fair For Life” program by IMO, the Cinnamon certification in April and another success in October for our Cloves & Vanilla production, by creating a fair & sustainable watershed.


TRIPPER’S top priority is not only to know and understand our farmers & producers, but also their production and working conditions. We are happy to announce that we have now added two crops in our “Fair For Life” certified product list!

 
 

A few words about “Fair For Life” Vanilla & Cloves…

Disappointed by the prices fluctuations, farmers kept planting Vanilla on their small plots of land. From the planting, to the pollination, until the curing, patience and knowledge are the key to success and not always economically interesting.

Cloves production relies strictly on harvesters or seasonal workers hired for a short period of time, therefore they usually do not get a stable and steady income.

For Fair Trade benefits to be adapted into production we need community input & ideas for implemented improvements.

• Farmers’ welfare (material for the harvest)
• Education (uniforms, books, stationary)
• Healthcare & medical checkups for the elderly

 

... and we’re just getting started!

We always keep in mind Inclusion, Social Value Creation and Trustworthy relationships as key words to work together towards a constant sustainable production. Please do not hesitate to contact us on your ethical & responsible activities, we are happy to have you with us on this sustainable development trip!

~Amandine Dubourg, Sustainable Agriculture Developer


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INDONESIAN VANILLA REVIEW
 
1  

It is no secret that vanilla prices are up… again!

As always, the initial spike came from Madagascar and thanks to modern communication techniques Indonesian traders soon got the news which trickled down to the most remote farmers.

So far prices have shot up three times since last year and subsequently farmers are holding their inventory hoping prices can rise even further in the coming months. It is important to note that the carryover inventory from previous years could be up to 100MT, some even going back as far as 2004, when prices began collapsing.
 
 
Most lots we receive now are clearly a mix of new & old inventory, with even some beans carrying heavy, musty mold notes.

Grading incoming lots has become more and more crucial to guarantee our product stability… at TRIPPER we are lucky to rely on Balinese labor, with more than 20 year experience & expertise in the art of Vanilla grading.

What to expect from the upcoming 2016 crop? Again we have to turn to Madagascar to anticipate the trend. 		  Fortunately the flowering process is always good there and they can expect a big crop, but with collectors still holding on to their 2015 stock we can only assume they will degrade quality because of their excessive vacuum sealing. If by June the export of 2015 is still low and the new crop is ready to harvest, we might actually see a dip in the price.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed, the last thing we need is for Vanilla prices to go any higher than they already are today.

~Francois Bernard, Board of Director

 

 
INDONESIAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
 
1  

If we could compare the Indonesian economy to a fine wine then clearly 2015 would rank very low on a vintage table.

The new Indonesian president, nicknamed Jokowi, was elected on the promise to improve lives of low income Indonesians. Not only has that not happened, but the economy has dropped to a level not seen since the Asian crisis of 1998.
 
 
Jokowi promised a 7 % GDP growth and we are currently at around 4,6 %. It would be easy to blame exports of natural resources such as coal, because of China’s economic slowdown, but that would not reflect the reality. The fact is that all of the local economic players have been affected: real estate, textile, automotive, food, etc… even palm oil and cigarettes which are normally recession proof have shown a decline in sales.

As always when a recession occurs companies must take action to reduce their costs, but what we are witnessing is an increase in unemployment which is a nightmare for the new president. Jokowi and his cabinet are scrambling to find solutions and came up in September with different measures to revive the economy.

The main goal is to tackle red tape which is rampant in Indonesia and simplify procedures for foreign investors. 		  It is too soon to measure the effectiveness of such actions but the Indonesian currency has already appreciated against the US Dollar which is a good sign.

Managing a vast multi-cultural archipelago such as Indonesia
is not an easy task. Let’s see in the coming months whether or not Jokowi and his team can turn the economy around or will we see the current recession lingering on.

~Olivier Bernard, New Business Development

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT: TURMERIC
 
1  

Turmeric is more than just a spice... it may be the key to your health.

Well known for its deep golden color and warm yet mild fragrance, this super-spice can deliver much more than one might expect… exerting powerful anti-inflammatory effects, it is rich in antioxidants which boost immunity, it can aid in neuological development and even lower cholesterol.

TRIPPER’S "Loris Turmeric Extract" (LORI4XO) is harvested in Java, Indonesia. LORI4XO is certified Organic, Halal & Kosher. This product is also water soluble, making it easily applied to your hot or cold beverages, soups and meat or vegetarian dishes.


~Clara Olivia, Product Development Manager


 
RECIPES...ENJOY!
 
1   INGREDIENTS
• 1 bottle of good RED WINE
• 2 DRAGON CINNAMON Sticks 2.75" Organic
• 1 MACAQUE VANILLA Beans-Cuts EP Indonesia
• 10 GORILLA CLOVES Whole Hand-Picked Organic
• 1 tsp CARDAMOM SEEDS
• 110gm BROWN SUGAR (firmly packed)
• 2 tbsp RAISINS
• Raisins & Almond slivers (garnish)


DIRECTIONS
• Pour the RED WINE in a pot.
• Add CINNAMON STICKS, VANILLA BEAN, CLOVES, CARDAMOM SEEDS & BROWN SUGAR.
• Bring to a slight simmer (do not boil).
• Turn off heat…. let rest until completely cold.
• Bring to a slight simmer again (do not boil).

 
 


• Turn off heat…. let rest until completely cold again.
• For best results, keep the spices are in the pot 24hrs.
• Drain all ingredients
• Heat the wine (do not boil) & pour into small espresso-sized cups.
• Garnish with raisins & almond slivers.

 
 
 
  INGREDIENTS
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp ELEPHANT GINGER Ground 30 Mesh Organic
• 1 tsp DRAGON CINNAMON Ground 60 Mesh Organic
• 1⁄2 tsp GORILLA CLOVES Ground 30 Mesh Organic
• 1⁄2 tsp RHINO NUTMEG Ground 30 Mesh Organic
• 1⁄2 tsp baking soda
• 1⁄4 tsp salt
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 1⁄2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3⁄4 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1large egg


DIRECTIONS
• Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and salt together. Set aside.
• Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Beat in molasses and egg.
• Gradually add flour mixture to make a soft dough.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.

 
 

• On a lightly floured board, roll dough out to about 1/4" thickness. Do not roll too thin.
• Cut out shapes with cookie cutters.
• Place on lightly greased baking sheets.
• Bake for about 8 minutes, or until just firm when pressed. Do not overbake.
• Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.
• Remove and place on racks to finish cooling.
• Frost if desired. (Optional)

Tripper's Nutmeg