Samantha, our fearless leader and co-founder traveled to Sri Lanka back in 2013 to tour the coconut plantation where we source our coconut from! It is extremely important to us as a company to source high quality ingredients grown with environmentally conscious techniques and that these farmers have decent working conditions. Here is a peak at Samantha's experience!

Exploring Sri Lanka

What an incredible opportunity I had to visit the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. Not only did I get the chance to visit one of the plantations and factories where our coconut is grown and processed, but I also was able to travel, explore and learn about Sri Lankan culture as a whole. This trip was incredibly rewarding for all of these reasons. I left with a deeper connection to one of our main ingredients and a better understanding of how people on the other side of the world live.

First, take a look at some of my pictures from the coconut plantation. I was amazed by how wild and jungle-like it was! The process of coconut planting and harvesting is incredibly sustainable. There were trees there from 4 months old to 50 years old. Every part of the tree is used in Sri Lankan culture but also in the planting/harvesting process. Coconut husks (the outside shell) are used as fertilizer when a new tree is planted. The husks help retain moisture and keep the roots happy. I saw another way this is done where the husks are dried and used to build a mound where the tree is planted (that picture is in the next group). Also, Dried palm leaves are used to cover newly harvested coconuts while they wait to be taken to the factory. All in all, I was speechless during my tour from the vast beauty of the land!!

Plantation

A view of the land, this one plantation was over 50 acres!

Coconut Trees

The amazing property manager looking at a one month old coconut tree!

Palm

Newly harvested coconuts!

Temple

Dambulla Cave Temple

Cave temple

Inside one of the caves at the Dambulla Cave Temple

Sigiriya Rock

Sigiriya Rock...ready for the big climb!

Elephants at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

Elephant sanctuary! Look at those baby elephants!

coconut inside

Newly harvested coconuts!

Sri Lanka

Me & my sister-in-law, Mo, with a couple of the sweet kids who's parents farm coconut!

I left our plantation tour feeling so proud. Our supplier is not only very careful about the planting and harvesting of this amazing organic ingredient, but they do a lot of good for their local communities and for their employees. I am so happy that we support them!