Transcript
The managing director of Pacific Oil says there's much excitement about Dr Bronners, a company founded in the US in 1948.
The Americans held meetings with a range of coconut oil businesses, but in the end Fanene Sefo's was picked.
Pacific Oil's new joint venture with the American company is branded as SerendiCoco Samoa.
"The coconut industry has been in decline for many years. But now coconut seems to have been taken on as a product. It has become a lot more high profile and there's a much bigger demand for coconut which is good. "
Fanene Sefo says copra farmers can expect to be paid close to $US600 (1500 tala) per tonne under the deal
Their farmers, both on Upolu and Savaii, are all certified as organic and fairtrade but sustainability is also a priority.
"It is good for the whole industry, especially the farmers at the grassroots level and we are also embarking on coconut replanting as a lot of trees are getting old and we have to make sure there is a sustainable source of coconuts and copra going forward."
One of those who will benefit is Samoa Coconut Cluster's Edwin Tamasese.
He formed the cluster group along with other businesses to become a collective as farmers were being paid a pittance prior and he wanted to pool resources.
Edwin Tamasese initially got into the coconut industry three years ago, as he could see its untapped potential.
"Because we had a lot of old plantations here that were put in during the 1800s so we have got hundreds and hundreds of acres of coconuts. We have got probably like 2 million coconuts every year that just go to waste and weren't utilised. Then you have this high value market in coconut oil that was becoming all the rage so we thought it was a good opportunity to utilise all this land that was left pretty much dormant."
Eventually he says they want to be able to pay farmers up to 1 tala 50 (or around 50 US cents) per coconut.
Despite coconut oil being given a bad wrap by some, his advice to consumers is to do your own research.
"I think the thing is that the product is quite a testament to itself and there's enough out there that people realise the people behind these studies are big commercial growers like the American Heart Foundation, which is funded by canola oil and corn oil and all these companies with a commercial interest."
Mailelani Samoa is a family owned business that sells skincare products made locally out of organic Samoa coconut oil.
The mother, Sylvie Salanoa, says she just hopes that there will be enough coconuts to go around with this latest deal.
She isn't surprised saying Samoa's oil is an incredible product given its clear and thin consistency, plus it's easily absorbed too.
"It does make a difference on the skin, especially if you have dry skin or itchy skin, eczema ......it makes a difference. Most of all if you live in the tropics where it is humid. It protects your skin."
Fanene Sefo says Pacific Oil will export 3,000 tonnes of premium coconut oil annually. If all goes well, they could do more.
"We have been very fortunate that we have had this joint venture and we have gotten to know them over the last few years and this is a family-oriented operation who cares about the environment and we will stick together as a team."
Their first shipment of SerendiCoco Samoa is due to leave for the states at the end of March.