A Visit to The Tighanimine Womens Fairtrade Argan Oil Cooperative
Whilst reading about International Women’s day and researching my trip to Morocco and Agadir, I learned that there are many Women’s Cooperatives producing Argan Oil in the area. The Souss Plain in South West Morocco is the only region in the world where Argan trees grow and just outside Agadir is the very first Argan Oil Cooperative in the world.
Interested, I decided to dig deeper. Via Twitter and Facebook I got in touch with Afafe Daoud, the spokeswoman for the Tighanimine Cooperative, who kindly offered to take me to visit the women.
Source: www.fairtrade.net
What is Argan Oil?
Argan oil is becoming increasingly popular in Europe; rich in vitamins C and E it’s an excellent natural moisturiser for skin and hair and has also been used for culinary purposes in Morocco for generations.
But the benefits of this organic oil are more than just skin deep – production is creating a positive impact and empowering the women in this small region of South West Morocco.
The Womens' Argan Oil Cooperative
Afafe meets me and we drive about 20 minutes out of Agadir arriving at a small village surrounded by hills dotted with Argan Trees. Stopping outside a small building the first thing I hear as we approach is the sound of lively chatter. And then the cracking of Argan nuts as they are pounded between two stones.
The women sit on the floor around the edge of the room with large baskets of Argan nuts in various stages of preparation.
How is Argan Oil Made?
After harvesting the fruits from the Argan Trees they are dried and the thick peel removed, the inner flesh is also removed by hammering with a large flat stone. The women thought I should have a go! I sat at a stone block and started cracking. I removed the outer layer fairly easily and the nut inside was the size and colour of an acorn but was incredibly hard.
The next stage involves cracking the nut to release the small soft almond-like kernels. It's not easy - they’re hard nuts to crack without whacking a thumbnail - my attempts were pathetic but I don’t give up easily and eventually I cracked it!
This part of the process is the most time-consuming and explains why the oil is so expensive. Afafe tells me that it takes one woman six days to produce a kilo of Argan kernels; 2.2 kilos are needed to produce just one litre of oil.
Pressing the oil
The traditional method of pressing argan oil involves grinding the kernels to a paste by crushing them between two flat round stones turned by hand. This is both labour-intensive and time-consuming.
The Tighanimine Cooperative is fortunate to have a small stainless-steel machine to press the kernels; during this process the temperature never rises about 40c to avoid oxidation and preserve the oil's properties. Once pressed the oil is decanted for 1-2 weeks and then filtered and bottled. For culinary oil, the kernels are roasted before pressing to give a nutty taste.
The traditional method of pressing involves grinding the kernels to a paste by crushing them between two flat round stones turned by hand. It's labour-intensive and time-consuming.
The Tighanimine Cooperative is fortunate to have a small stainless-steel machine to press the kernels; during this process the temperature never rises about 40c to avoid oxidation and preserve the oil's properties.
Once pressed the oil is decanted for 1-2 weeks and then filtered and bottled. For culinary oil, the kernels are roasted before pressing to give a nutty taste.
Tighanimine Cooperative started up in 2007 as the women attended literacy classes run by Nadia El Fatmi, now president of the Cooperative, and since elected to the chair of Fairtrade North African Board.
The women wanted to do something to improve their family income and so started the Cooperative. They were aware of the benefits of Argan oil. It had been used in the region for thousands of years and, of course, the profusion of Argan trees right on their doorstep helped.
Initially, the Cooperative was not welcomed by the men of the village. They’d traditionally been the sole bread-winners and were unsure about this change in the womens' role.
Gradually the Cooperative began to reap the benefits of hard work and the men became more accepting and there are now around 60 women working at the Cooperative. The women are benefitting not only financially but through improved social position in a male-dominated society and of course Nadia's literacy classes continue.
Fairtrade Argan Oil
In 2012 the Cooperative won an award from the Moroccan Network for Social and Solidarity Economy and the Pan-African Institute for Development for its work in good governance and economic development. The prize will help the women increase production and market their own brand of Argan Oil called Tounaroz. They plan to sell it in Morocco, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the USA.
Gaining Fairtrade status ensures that the women earn a fair price for their endeavours which in turn benefits their families and the entire village. It's good to know that the women who work so hard to produce the Argan Oil are the people who actually benefit.
I was a little nervous about meeting the women but needn’t have been. Everyone was very welcoming and although I don’t speak any Berber we managed to communicate with the help of Afafe’s English.
Thank you Afafe for all your help with my visit. Nadia El Fatmi and the women are an inspiration and I hope this ethical Cooperative continues to grow and prosper.
If you'd like to contact the Tighanimine Argan Oil Cooperative you can email them here:
coop.tighanimine@gmail.com cooptighanimine@yahoo.fr
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Thanks for the interesting article. I am writing a paper on Berber women and argan oil and wonder if you can send me some photos that I could use - from the collection of the fruit to the final oil product. Credit will be given to the sources, of course.
Thanks very much - best regard,
Allan Degen
Hello,
Thank you very much for your post. Our family loves to travel and meet and engage with locals to be able to expand our cultural and human outreach. As we will be traveling to Morocco this month, I was wondering where I could find the cooperative, as we may be able to pay a visit. We will be driving from Essaouira to Taroudant, and thought perhaps it was on the way?
I tried emailing the above addresses you provided. I guess I'll wait patiently 🙂
Thank you again, and happy holidays.
Ayelet
Hi Ayelet, Thanks for getting in touch. I haven't had any contact with anyone from the cooperative for over four years so I'm sorry I can't help you. I hope you enjoy your trip to Morocco and hopefully manage to visit the cooperative. Regards, Suzanne
I would like to know if the Cooperative could export the argan oil to make soap, shampoos and other products in Ecuador South America.
Since we are installing a fabric for this products.
Thanks,
Miryam Salazar
BIOCARE LIFE S A
Hi Miryam, you can contact the Cooperative at coop.tighanimine@gmail.com
So nice blog:)... I am also interested to get their contact... would love to buy their products for my beauty rituals:) could you please give me their contacts?
Hi Kris - if you let me have your email address I'll forward it to the ladies for you. 🙂
Hi Suzanne, we a company of selling hotel amenites which headquater is located in Australia. Argan oil could be added to our conditoner and body lotion products. We want to buy the Fair trade Argan oil from them, but how to contact with them? Or could you please help us to contact them? Thanks.
Hello,
Please could you drop me an email at travelbunny@live.co.uk and I'll forward it on to them.
Many thanks for your interest.
I am Project Director at Ibn AlBaytar NGO chaired by Prof. Dr Zoubida Charrouf. We support argan oil cooperatives in the management of the cooperative development and marketing.
Tighanimien cooperative has the world's first fairtrade certified Argan oil.
In buying the exquisite argan oil, you are also investing in the development of the Mesguina forest. We would be very happy to receive you at Tighanimine Village (15km from Agadir, Morocco) to introduce you to the exceptional women who work hard for the development of their village and their region.
In the last few years this cooperative has received numerous national and international awards for the excellence of their work, their commitment and the quality of their product.
We remain at your disposal and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. We hope to welcome you as one of our valued customers.
leave me a message at imane.chafchaouni(a)gmail.com
Hi Imane, thank you for your comment. I've contacted you directly at your email address.
Hi !
I am interested in sourcing the nut with the shell so that the oil can be made as and when required. I shall be carrying out research on the same as validation of the various claims in our setting. Since July is the month of harvesting with better oxidative stability harvest, I though the time of communique is in place.
thanks & regards,
+919286259565
Hi,
I visited in 2013 during a trip to Agadir. I'm sorry I have no other information about Argan nuts. Good luck in your search.
Hi Suzanne, I came across your article as I looked for fair trade organisations in Morocco. I founded and run Oz Fair Trade, and I'm currently travelling through Morocco. On every trip I try to find and meet new suppliers, and your article has been extremely useful. I contacted them on their facebook page, but so far I have not got a reply. I am wondering if you have an email address of the contact person who took you to visit the cooperative. If you have it, could you please send it to me? qinnie@ozfairtrade.org Thank you so much!
Hi Qinnie
I've passed your details on to the co-operative and hope you hear back from them. Thanks for your interest. Regards, Suzanne
Thank you so much!
Hi! I found your blog when I googled Tournaroz. Bought some argan oil & wanted to check their credentials, whether they really are fairtrade, organic, etc (I know, it should be the other way around, research first then buy). I'm glad they really are all that. I should also say that their organic argan oil is truly a great beauty product. At first I was wary the saleswoman in Rabat was overselling it, but the oil really did help with my acne & fine lines. Much, much better than the expensive serums I usually buy from department stores. Now I use the oil as face & neck moisturizer, then run my hands over my hair. Sometimes I also use them for my hands & cuticles. The oil is not greasy at all, & absorbed by the skin real fast. Now I wished I bought more, although I notice a little goes a long way & there's a 2 year expiration date from the production date.
I love the product and I've just heard from them that they're supplying Neal's Yard and have had some investment. Things are looking up for the cooperative. The women deserve it too - they work so hard. Thanks for visiting my blog and taking time to comment 🙂
I loved to buy this oil but want to make sure I get it from the Women in Morocco. Where pecan I purchase it and be assured they gave made it. Whar amazing Ladies x
They are all inspirational woment. You could try contacting them via their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/cooperative.tighanimine.3?fref=ts Let me know how you get on.
Can anyone visit thëse women? Im currenly in morocco and would love to pay a visit. Can i just drop by or how can i contact them? Thanks for info!!
I contacted them through their Facebook page to arrange a visit. There's a link to it in the blogpost.
Sounds like a remarkable initiative in empowering local women Suzanne! Had never heard of it before.
They are remarkable women Madhu
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
-oneworldprojects.net
I was just going to ask where I can buy this, Suze, but presumably any health food store? So much effort! Nice to see you going down this route with your lovely blog.
I'll try and find out where you can buy this in the UK Jo.
Not all the producers are as ethical as this one so it may be wise to check origins...
Hi, I would like to buy these products! Could you send me a link on where or how! I am tired of fake argon products. These women are amazing and deserve the money more than anyone!!!
Hi Donna - I don't have a contact any more but here's a link to their FB 'about' page where you can request details. Good luck 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/cooperative.tighanimine.3/about
I loved this post, what a lovely story. I use Argan Oil as a moisturiser so that made it doubly interesting to read.
I've used it on my hair for a while but might have to think about it as a moisturiser as well...
Wow .... fantastic - never hear about argan oil before .. will look of it our health shop. Fairtrade is a fantastic organisation. An how inspirational and wonderful to have met those women. Thank you for sharing. Need something badly for my hair .. since my chemo it never been the same, even if I didn't lose it .. it has become so dry.
Hi Viveka and thanks for dropping by. Argan Oil may well help - I put a few drops in with my conditioner to combat dryness. I'm planning a give-away shortly of some Argan Oil that I bought at the Cooperative so do enter when the time comes for a chance to win some 🙂
What a great initiative that will undoubtedly assist countless women in securing income and building a sustainable life for themselves and their families. Thank you for sharing!
They are inspirational women and it's so good that they are able to help themselves.
Hello,
I would be very interested in having their contact to order some argan oil from them for an event we are hosting on 17 november in Marrakech. Thank you in advance, Jessica
Try this email address argane.taroudant@gmail.com