Benefits from Selling Shea Nuts

Grace is one of Baraka's organic shea nut pickers in Ghana's Upper West Region. She has been picking shea nuts for Baraka for many years, working as part of the producer network connected to the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre. Through that relationship, Grace has been trained on how and where to pick shea nuts, and on how to prepare them to the organic standard required — a skill set that directly affects the quality and traceability of every batch.

Before working with Baraka, Grace's work involved travelling to harder and more difficult conditions. Since she began collecting shea nuts for Baraka, that has changed in two ways: the work itself is more manageable, and Baraka purchases the nuts directly from her village — so she no longer has to leave to sell them. The result is that she is able to spend more time with her family while earning a reliable income from shea nut collection.

Grace is one of the women whose work makes Baraka shea butter possible. Baraka sources shea nuts and shea butter directly through the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region — a cooperative relationship maintained for over 15 years. Every batch is hand-processed using traditional water-based methods with zero chemical extraction, and complete chain-of-custody documentation is available for any order. The women who produce and collect these ingredients receive a fair-trade premium directly, without intermediaries.

The process of getting shea butter to the end user begins long before processing — it begins with how the nuts are picked and prepared. Training producers like Grace on proper harvesting and preparation is part of how Baraka maintains ingredient quality and organic integrity from the very first step. You can read more in the guide to the truth about shea butter — what every consumer should know, including how sourcing practices affect quality and what to look for when choosing a supplier.

Over 90% of the people working with Baraka in Ghana are women. Every purchase supports their ability to work with dignity, earn a fair income, and build futures for their families. To understand the full scope of this work, you can read Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report, which details the cooperative's progress and the lives behind every batch.

You can also learn more through these related resources: the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre, how handmade shea butter is made, and the fair trade story behind Baraka's ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Grace and what does she do for Baraka?

Grace is one of Baraka's organic shea nut pickers in Ghana's Upper West Region. She has been collecting shea nuts for Baraka for many years and is part of the producer network connected to the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre. Baraka has trained Grace on how and where to pick shea nuts, and on how to prepare them to the organic standard required for Baraka's supply chain.

What has changed for Grace since she started working with Baraka?

Two things have changed for Grace since she began collecting shea nuts for Baraka. First, the work is more manageable than the harder and more difficult work she did previously. Second, Baraka purchases her shea nuts directly from her village, so she no longer has to travel to sell them. This combination means she can spend more time with her family while maintaining a reliable income from shea nut collection.

Why does Baraka train shea nut pickers?

Baraka trains shea nut pickers like Grace because the quality and organic integrity of shea butter begins at the point of harvest. Knowing where to pick, how to pick, and how to prepare the nuts properly affects everything that comes after — from processing to the final product. Training producers at the source is part of how Baraka maintains ingredient quality and supply chain traceability from the very first step.

Who makes Baraka shea butter?

Baraka shea butter is made by women at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region. Women like Grace collect and prepare the organic shea nuts that go into every batch, while other producers hand-process them using traditional water-based methods with zero chemical extraction. Baraka has maintained this direct cooperative relationship for over 15 years. More than 90% of the people working with Baraka in Ghana are women.

What is the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre?

The Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre is a women's cooperative in Ghana's Upper West Region through which Baraka sources its shea butter, shea nuts, and other ingredients. It operates as a direct, fair-trade cooperative — producers receive a fair-trade premium without intermediaries. Baraka has worked directly with the centre for over 15 years. The cooperative connects multiple producer communities across the region, including the shea nut pickers like Grace who supply the raw ingredient.

About the Author

Wayne Dunn is the founder of Baraka Impact and a former Professor of Practice in Sustainability at McGill University. He holds an M.Sc. in Management from Stanford and has spent over 15 years working directly with the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region to source traditionally made shea butter and natural oils. He shares DIY skincare recipes and ingredient guides designed to be made at home with real ingredients — and sourced with full transparency about where they come from.