CASHEWS

From its origin in tropical Brazil the cashew tree was spread by Portuguese Explorers to East Africa and then India. Today it is fairly widely grown in tropical areas, particularly close to the equator. The cashew nut grows at the end of a cashew apple on a cashew tree which grows up to 30 foot tall. The nut itself has an extremely hard shell and the kernel inside is surrounded both by testa and caustic fluid which makes extracting the kernel a difficult process. As a result the crops of most African countries are exported primarily to India for processing. The processing of the nuts naturally leads to some becoming slightly discoloured or scorched and others broken. Although we concentrate mostly on white whole grades we are also happy to supply split, broken and scorched grades by request.

The major origins of cashew kernels for international trades are currently India and Vietnam and to a lesser extent, Brazil. The different methods of processing in each of these major origins result in slightly different characteristics in terms of colour, softness and taste making them better able to meet the various requirements of customers around the world be it for roasting, raw packing or as an ingredient.

Barrow Lane & Ballard Ltd has a wealth of experience in the Cashew market. Having always had strong relationships with origin suppliers and customers from around the globe, we have grown into one of the most important cashew handlers in the world.

Through regular visits to India and Vietnam we have encouraged and identified the better packers in terms of both quality and reliability. With evermore stringent demands in food safety and hygiene a thorough knowledge of suppliers is essential to our customers.

Like many markets, the cashew market can be volatile so continuity of supply is extremely important. Having a wide ranging customer and supply base, together with a strong balance sheet, allows us to give flexibility and liquidity at all times.

Our size and reputation allows us to offer customers deliveries from spot to one or two years forward in quantities ranging from container loads to single pallets. With our extensive knowledge of the market through our origin and customer contacts, we can provide a balanced view of the market which both customers and suppliers find helpful in their decision making process.