Page 126 - The Costco Connection - October 2018

INSIDE COSTCO // BUYING SMART

graded and sorted for size and color. The recently cashew apples didn’t have a use
nuts are then pasteurized and packed in and were just left on the ground.

-pound bags, loaded in a sea container Today, with support from Costco and
and shipped to the roasting facility in the TechnoServe, an international nonprofit
United States. that promotes business solutions to pov-
Upon arrival, the cashews go through erty in the developing world, local growers
extensive quality control testing. If they are finding value in the discarded cashew
meet the strict quality control standards apples. “The farming communities are
of Kirkland Signature, they will then be now making nutritious cashew apple juice
roasted, packaged and shipped to a for sale locally while providing
Costco depot before arriving at one of the additional income for their families,”

warehouses around the globe. Knapp says.
This process, from start to finish, can
take nearly a year, and the miles traveled A versatile and flavorful nut Quality is in
are equivalent to circling Earth. Costco has been selling roasted
Kirkland Signature Whole Fancy the size
Quality control in all aspects Cashews, its top-selling nut, since ‰ŠŠ
.
The focus isn’t just on the quality of Today unsalted and organic raw cashews All Kirkland Signature
the cashews. Costco buyers are also are also offered. cashews meet strict quality
focused on the quality of life of those they Cashews can be turned into a non- standards, and they are
work with, and they continually strive to dairy beverage, butter and even cheese, among the largest cashews
in the industry. “When
ensure working conditions are good for and can be eaten in every meal from cashews are processed, we
each and every individual within the breakfast to dessert. get over 25 di” erent grades
supply chain. Everybody must be treated Packed with protein, as well as of cashew kernels,” says Dan
well while earning a comfortable wage. phosphorus, magnesium, copper and Phipps, president and CEO,
“We want to ensure farmers and plant manganese, cashews add delicious flavor Red River Foods, one of the
employees’ livelihoods are positively to a variety of foods. suppliers of Kirkland
affected, and it’s crucial that we fully “Cashews can be used as a base for Signature cashews.
understand the impact we are having in sauces, used as thickeners in gravy, and “Costco’s expectations for
the countries we do business in,” Knapp they can be chopped fine for use in pesto the highest-quality, premium
says. “We travel to these locations to review sauce to give a great flavor and crunch,” cashews are well known
farmer and community enhancements, says Ganesh Rajaraman, senior vice presi- throughout the global supply
and to support local communities with dent of marketing, Olam International, chain,” Phipps says. “For
things like schools and maternity and one of the world’s top producers of edible decades, Kirkland Signature
medical centers. We also promote farmer nuts and a supplier to Costco for more cashews have been
training to help educate the local farmers than a decade. recognized as the premier
about new, more efficient ways to farm. The next time you indulge in Kirkland cashews available in the
“Our goal is to help these in-country Signature cashews, know that you are not consumer market.”—LB
farming communities thrive, which in only enjoying a delicious and nutritious
turn helps us to provide a high-quality snack, you are the final step in an
cashew for Costco members.” arduous process to provide quality
As an example, he explains that until cashews and support cashew farmers
all over the world.

Space savers that they can control. increased the number of jars
For instance, in 2009, per pallet from 288 to 432
Because the cashew market the decision to move from by maximizing every square
(and so many others) can be round jars to square had a inch of space possible,
volatile due to weather, ship- signifi cant impact, according thereby driving down freight
ping costs, pests and many to Justin Knapp, Kirkland costs, and we were able to
other factors, Costco buyers Signature foods buyer, by pass the savings on to our
try to fi nd ways to keep costs making it possible to ship members.”—LB
as low as possible in ways jars more eˆ ciently. “We

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