The global market for vanilla has experienced tremendous volatility in recent years, as the entire supply chain has struggled with price fluctuations, limited supply and poor farming and harvesting practices that harm the quality of beans. In the interest of transparency, we have created a Vanilla Crop Report.
With this report, we aim to help our customers, prospects and key stakeholders, understand the complex dynamics affecting this industry. We provide regular updates to keep you informed on how events in Madagascar and around the world are affecting vanilla quality, pricing and supply.
At Nielsen-Massey we remain committed to securing only the highest quality vanilla beans and to supporting sustainable growing and production practices throughout the industry. By sharing information about the vanilla market with you, we hope to enhance your understanding of the underlying reasons for this volatility.
We invite you to explore our crop report. Please join our email list and let us know when you have questions, comments or concerns. We thank you for being invested in Nielsen-Massey and the future of the vanilla industry.
During Nielsen-Massey Vanillas’ recent trip to Madagascar, the team spent time in the local villages and communities – meeting residents and learning more about what daily life looks like for the farmers and their families’ who supply our vanilla.
Infrastructure in Madagascar is very poor, making it difficult to move from village to village. Many of the roads are unpaved, and covered with thick mud, making it nearly impossible to travel without the proper vehicle. This means larger trips are not possible for many local farmers, who must rely on collectors to transport their beans to the vanilla bean market.
Madagascar remains one of the world’s most impoverished countries, with 75 percent of the population living in extreme poverty, according to the World Bank. As part of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas’ commitment to care we are constantly seeking to improve the livelihoods of the country’s vanilla farmers and families.
During the team’s most recent visit they travelled to the village of Andranovato, which is located on the northeast corner of the island. Most homes here are made with thatched-roofs, but recent years have seen an increase in the construction of sturdier wooden or cinder block homes. Some include solar panel devices, such as this portable one donated by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas that attaches to lightbulbs and gives families more stable access to electricity.
In 2019, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas funded the construction of a new well water and latrine system to provide clean and accessible water to the entire village. Nearly 600 residents have already seen a reduction in water-born illnesses as a result.
