East Timor Organic PB
A$7,073
of $6,500 targetyrs ago
Successful on 21st Sep 2015 at 12:00PM.
Did you know that there is only one organic peanut farm in Australia?
When I started 99th Monkey in 2013, I was startled to learn this was the case. The amount of nuts this farm produces is only a tiny fraction of Australia's demand for organic peanuts. The vast majority of organic peanut butter eaten in Australia is made from nuts that have been imported from China or Argentina.
But this never seemed like a good solution to me. In 2012, I was visiting my wife's family in East Timor when I learned that there are thousands of farmers there who are growing peanuts free of any chemical inputs, just as they have been doing for generations. When I started 99th Monkey the following year, I decided that if I ever used peanuts grown anywhere other than Australia, I would get them from East Timor.
This makes sense from a food miles point of view, but it is also about much more.
Australia’s closest neighbour, East Timor is not only one of the world's youngest countries, it is also one the poorest. Fifteen years after achieving its independence, the country is still struggling to improve the lives of many of the people there, particularly those living outside of the cities.
With 80 per cent of Timorese people directly involved in agriculture, and the vast majority of them still using traditional organic farming practices, I believe that connecting these farmers with the growing market for organic products in Australia is a no-brainer, and will help to spread economic growth throughout the fledgling nation.
And the best thing about it? Their peanuts are amazing!
East Timor is famous in its region for its deliciously sweet peanuts. In fact, during the Indonesian occupation peanuts from Timor were so highly valued that the country’s main growing region produced almost ten times what they do now.
Over the past six months I have been working with one farming community to establish a direct trade relationship. With this project, I hope to bring that relationship to life by buying at least one tonne of peanuts to bring to Australia. The more money I can raise, the more peanuts I can buy and the more we can all be doing to help kick start a new export industry for East Timor, something which the country desperately needs to help lift its people out of poverty.
If I can show Australians just how delicious these pristine, chemical-free peanuts are, then we can drive economic development by linking these farmers with a market that is prepared to pay a fair price for their products, and help to reduce the carbon footprint made by Australia's growing peanut butter habit in the process!
When I started 99th Monkey in 2013, I was startled to learn this was the case. The amount of nuts this farm produces is only a tiny fraction of Australia's demand for organic peanuts. The vast majority of organic peanut butter eaten in Australia is made from nuts that have been imported from China or Argentina.
But this never seemed like a good solution to me. In 2012, I was visiting my wife's family in East Timor when I learned that there are thousands of farmers there who are growing peanuts free of any chemical inputs, just as they have been doing for generations. When I started 99th Monkey the following year, I decided that if I ever used peanuts grown anywhere other than Australia, I would get them from East Timor.
This makes sense from a food miles point of view, but it is also about much more.
Australia’s closest neighbour, East Timor is not only one of the world's youngest countries, it is also one the poorest. Fifteen years after achieving its independence, the country is still struggling to improve the lives of many of the people there, particularly those living outside of the cities.
With 80 per cent of Timorese people directly involved in agriculture, and the vast majority of them still using traditional organic farming practices, I believe that connecting these farmers with the growing market for organic products in Australia is a no-brainer, and will help to spread economic growth throughout the fledgling nation.
And the best thing about it? Their peanuts are amazing!
East Timor is famous in its region for its deliciously sweet peanuts. In fact, during the Indonesian occupation peanuts from Timor were so highly valued that the country’s main growing region produced almost ten times what they do now.
Over the past six months I have been working with one farming community to establish a direct trade relationship. With this project, I hope to bring that relationship to life by buying at least one tonne of peanuts to bring to Australia. The more money I can raise, the more peanuts I can buy and the more we can all be doing to help kick start a new export industry for East Timor, something which the country desperately needs to help lift its people out of poverty.
If I can show Australians just how delicious these pristine, chemical-free peanuts are, then we can drive economic development by linking these farmers with a market that is prepared to pay a fair price for their products, and help to reduce the carbon footprint made by Australia's growing peanut butter habit in the process!
How The Funds Will Be Used
The funds will be used to buy at least one tonne of peanuts from the Fatumaka farming co-op in Baucau, East Timor (the more money raised, the more peanuts I can buy) and then get them roasted and packed in Dili so that they can be shipped to Australia to be turned into 99th Monkey peanut butter for your eating pleasure.
The costs break down like this:
1 tonne roasted organic peanuts: $2950
Shipping: $1800
Flight to Timor to coordinate everything: $1300
Pozible fees: $300
Bank fees: $150
Total: $6500
The costs break down like this:
1 tonne roasted organic peanuts: $2950
Shipping: $1800
Flight to Timor to coordinate everything: $1300
Pozible fees: $300
Bank fees: $150
Total: $6500
The Challenges
I have done a lot of preparation to make sure that I can make this project run smoothly. This includes traveling to Timor earlier this year to meet with the farming group and reach an agreement with them about their crop. I have also consulted extensively with people in the shipping industry and with my friends at Wild Timor Coffee, a business that already regularly exports coffee from East Timor to Australia, to try to make sure I am as prepared as possible for any challenges that present themselves in the exporting/shipping/importing process.
Just the good stuff
One 300g jar of the first ever batch of 99th Monkey chemical-free East Timorese peanut butter (rrp $8)! These jars will be printed with a special label to show that you are making history with your delicious PB (priceless)! All rewards will be available once the first batch of peanut butter is made (ETA - October). Your reward can be picked up in person from us at any of our regular farmers markets (see the 99th Monkey website for details) or posted to you as per the postage costs below.
7 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 15
One for you, one for me
For $25 you'll get a jumbo 750g jar of chemical-free East Timorese PB (rrp $15), plus a 300g jar (rrp $8) with a special one-off label to celebrate the first batch (priceless). Keep one and give the other to a friend - or not. All rewards will be available once the first batch of peanut butter is made (ETA - October). Your reward can be picked up in person from us at any of our regular farmers markets (see the 99th Monkey website for details) or posted to you as per the postage costs below.
31 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 15
The works
For just $50, you'll get a full spread of 99th Monkey products - 1 x 750g East Timorese chemical-free PB ($15) 1 x 300g of that PB, with the special label (priceless) 2 x any other 99th Monkey spread that you choose (up to $26) All rewards will be available once the first batch of peanut butter is made (ETA - October). Your reward can be picked up in person from us at any of our regular farmers markets (see the 99th Monkey website for details) or posted to you as per the postage costs below.
41 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 15
The works x 2
You will get a double dose of the works. 2 x 750g East Timorese chemical-free PB ($30) 2 x 300g of that PB, with the special label (priceless) 4 x any other 99th Monkey spread that you choose (up to $52) All rewards will be available once the first batch of peanut butter is made (ETA - October). Your reward can be picked up from us at any of our regular farmers markets (see 99th Monkey website for details) or posted as per the postage costs below.
7 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 15
PB fanatic
You will get 12 x 750g jars of chemical-free East Timorese PB (rrp $180), plus a special commemorative 300g jar of that PB (priceless) plus one jar of any other variety you choose. You can get this all at once or stagger it over a year. All rewards will be available once the first batch of peanut butter is made (ETA - October). Your reward can be picked up from us at any of our regular farmers markets (see 99th Monkey website for details) or posted (all at once) as per the postage costs below.
2 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 15
VIP for a year
You are a superstar! You will get $50 worth of any 99th Monkey products you choose every month for 12 months (value $600). That means you'll be eating almost as much nut butter as we do!! (Of course you can share some with friends and loved ones too if you want.) All rewards will be available once the first batch of peanut butter is made (ETA - October). Your reward can be picked up from us at any of our regular farmers markets (see 99th Monkey website for details).
1 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 15
You are the 100th Monkey!
You are a total boss! You will get $100 worth of any 99th Monkey products you choose every month for 12 months (value $1200). That means you really will be eating as much nut butter as we do!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! All rewards will be available once the first batch of peanut butter is made (ETA - October). Your reward can be picked up from us at any of our regular farmers markets (see 99th Monkey website for details).
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 15