Organic, fair coconut milk from Sri Lanka

Family business, EOAS, promotes soil fertility

The climate in western Sri Lanka is tropical, warm and rainy all year round – ideal for coconut palms. This is where the fruits ripen, which the family-run company, EOAS, processes into organic, fair coconut milk.

The processing of high-quality organic products has a long tradition at the company, which is located on the west coast of Sri Lanka, near the capital Colombo. EOAS uses the natural wealth of the ancient spice island: The company has been producing spices and herbs, essential oils and plant extracts since 1999. After ten years of experience as an organic company, EOAS then began to process coconuts as well. EOAS has been producing organic coconut milk for Rapunzel since 2019 – and has been HAND IN HAND fair certified since 2022. The coconuts are grown by almost 30 farming families in the Kurunegala District. Special attention is paid to soil fertility.

EOAS in short

Family business in the west of Sri Lanka
Partnership, with almost 30 farming families
Processing of organic coconuts
Cooperation with Rapunzel since 2019, HAND IN HAND partner since 2022

Coconut farmer Ponsage Vimalasena is one of the approximately 30 contractual partners of the family-owned company, EOAS.

Cultivation in a healthy ecosystem

Sri Lanka's tall coconut palm is hardy. Nevertheless, the climatic peculiarities are a challenge for it. This is because of the occasional heavy tropical rainshowers . For this reason, the farming families, with whom EOAS has long-standing partnerships, attach particular importance to maintaining and promoting the soil.

In addition to drainage, the maintenance measures also include regular mulching and weeding. Coconut shells and fibres protect the soil in the hot, dry seasons and, at the same time, together with cow dung and compost, serve as biological fertiliser. Mixed crops with banana, pepper, pulses, grassland or cereals are common, and EAOS wants to further promote biodiversity with the farming families.

After harvesting, the coconuts continue to ripen for a few days. This does not reduce the quality of the fruit. On the contrary, it intensifies the nutty aroma. At the same time, the husk is easier to remove from the flesh.

EOAS processes the coconuts in its own processing plant near Colombo. After the shell is cracked, it and the brown skin is removed to obtain the purest form of milk. The firm, white coconut flesh is then crushed, blanched, pressed and sieved. The company has over 20 years of experience as a producer of organic products. It assures their goodness with quality assurance at state-of-the-art level.

Manike Aththanayake at the harvest. The climate on the west coast of Sri Lanka is ideal for coconut palms.

EOAS processes the coconuts. The fruits are crushed after peeling and skinning.

The farming families also benefit from HAND IN HAND

In the first year of the HAND IN HAND partnership, EOAS used the HAND IN HAND bonus – the fair-trade premium, which is paid by Rapunzel – to support mainly low-income local families who had to cope with supply shortages during the government crisis in 2022.

In the future, eco-social projects that will benefit soil fertility and biodiversity are in the pipeline. As such, the plan is to sustainably secure the economic basis of the farming families. EOAS has already gained experience in the cultivation of spices and now wants to extend the measures to coconut cultivation. This includes making organic fertiliser even more readily available and expanding the cultivation of coconut palms in mixed crops.

At the same time, EOAS wants to invest in education. The bio-fair company is planning a scholarship programme that will facilitate access to further education for the children of employees and farmers' families.
Independent of the HAND IN HAND bonus, EOAS already offers free medical support to employees in its own company. EOAS also organises transport for the workers.