Meet Our Coconut Suppliers + Our Favorite Recipes

We're big coconut fans at Bob's Red Mill, which is why we source only the finest fair trade coconuts, grown in the lush volcanic soil of the Philippines. Here, the mineral-rich soil combines with salt from the surrounding ocean to create the ideal environment to grow some of the most delicious coconuts in the world. We purchase between 3 and 4 million pounds of this tropical fruit each year to create coconut products such as our coconut flour, as well as our flaked, shredded and macaroon coconut. This is also where we get the coconut we use in our popular Organic Pineapple Coconut Oatmeal Cup! Through our yearly visits to the Philippines, we've built a close, decades-long relationship with our supplier and are proud to be in partnership with people who raise this popular fruit both responsibly and sustainably, in a way that gives back to the individual farmers and the surrounding community. Read on to learn all about coconuts and see photos from our recent trip to the Philippines! [caption id="attachment_1169529" align="alignright" width="350"] Coconut palm and the inner workings of the coconut! Photo via Wikipedia.[/caption]

Anatomy of a Coconut

Despite the name, the coconut is a drupe, or stone fruit, rather than a nut. Its green outer husk surrounds a hard shell, which contains the coconut meat as well as raw coconut water. The more mature the coconut, the less water and more meat there is! The earliest mention of the coconut palm tree dates back to the year 525. One of the earliest mentions of the coconut itself is in an early-1700s addition to One Thousand and One Nights, the famed compilation of Middle Eastern folktales that dates back to the 14th century. A truly zero waste product, the coconut is endlessly versatile, and every part of the coconut has a use. The water of the immature coconut is a popular drink, the desiccated flesh of the mature fruit is used to make coconut flour and shredded coconut (which is used in turn to create coconut milk and coconut oil), the shell is used to make charcoal, and the outer husk is used to make rope! The whole tree can also be used in multiple ways: the roots can be turned into dye or medicine, the leaves can be used in cooking and construction, and the trunk itself is used for timber. [caption id="attachment_1169531" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Bob's Red Mill CEO Dennis Vaughn visits with coconut suppliers. Photo by Bill Lozier[/caption] While young coconuts are ideal for sweet, delicious coconut water, the coconuts we source are more mature, yielding firm, creamy flesh that makes superior coconut products such as coconut flour, shreds and flakes.

Harvesting Coconut

[caption id="attachment_1169567" align="alignright" width="350"] A worker pares the skin off the coconut meat! Photo by Bill Lozier.[/caption] Coconut palms are productive year round and grow between five and 15 coconuts each month in a single bunch. Farmers in the Philippines use a long bamboo pole with a scythe at the end to cut down the bunches, letting them fall to the forest floor. This is faster, safer and more efficient than climbing the trees: up to 600,000 coconuts are harvested each day without harming the coconuts. The coconuts are impaled on steel stakes to dehusk them before they are loaded onto trucks. The coconuts are then taken to the processing plant to be unloaded, inspected and deshelled. The skin is pared off by hand to release the meat of the fruit, while the shell is used as charcoal to power the plant itself. The whole process is swift and highly organized, yielding little if any waste--plus it produces fantastic tasting coconut!

Fair Trade Builds Communities

At Bob's Red Mill, we believe in creating high quality products and treating others with fairness and respect. So we make it a priority to work with companies who share the same values. Our coconut supplier of many decades is an exemplary partner in this regard, as their Fair Trade Program benefits its workers and community in many ways: [caption id="attachment_1169572" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Bob's Red Mill CEO Dennis Vaughn visits our coconut supplier in the Philippines.[/caption] Coconut Replanting: From 2015 to 2018, 130,283 seed nuts were replanted by members to help ensure sustainable coconut production for decades to come in the coconut industry. Scholarships: Fair Trade members and their children and grandchildren are eligible for high school and college scholarships; 237 were granted during the 2017-2018 school year. Lending Money: Money is lent to members for business development and other needs, with a repayment rate of 98%. Clean Water: The program created a water purifying station, providing a basic need to the entire community. Food for Hungry Children: Since 2014, 1,280 severely malnourished children have benefited from a feeding program that also teaches personal hygiene and good nutrition. [caption id="attachment_1169570" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Everyone works together to unload coconuts for processing. Photo by Bill Lozier.[/caption] Members of this incredible program have also worked together to establish additional insurance in the instance of hospitalization or death, a calamity fund and emergency cash assistance, and counseling that addresses family planning, parenting, financial literacy and more. It also funds personal protective equipment for workers and provides a Christmas package each December, among other benefits. We're proud to work with these fantastic people, and pleased to offer coconut flour and unsulfured coconut flakes and shreds of the very highest quality.

Recipes

[caption id="attachment_1169575" align="alignright" width="350"] Cranberry Orange Drop Scones. Photo by Carolyn Ketchum.[/caption] Today, coconuts are used in thousands of products--from cosmetics to construction--but we, of course, are most concerned with eating it! Coconut flour is one of our most popular products: high in fiber and naturally sweet, it's ideal for gluten free baked goods and as a coating for chicken, seafood or tofu. Check out our favorite recipes below. These Coconut Flour Pancakes are light, fluffy and gluten free. Top them with butter and maple syrup or stir in fresh blueberries for a delicious breakfast. Coconut flour mixes with almond flour, fresh cranberries and Greek yogurt to create these delectable Cranberry Orange Drop Scones. Drizzle an orange glaze over these simple-to-make drop scones for an extra special touch and serve for breakfast, tea or as a snack. These rich, chocolate-y Coconut Flour Brownies are a fantastic gluten free dessert. Pair with a glass of milk or a scoop of your favorite ice cream. The nice thing about quick breads is they're so easy to make--and eat! This Banana Walnut Bread with Walnut Crumble Topping is the perfect balance of rich and sweet. Bananas, cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts combine beautifully with the natural sweetness of the coconut flour. [caption id="attachment_1169580" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Coconut Flour Wraps can be used in sweet and savory dishes.[/caption] While these Coconut Flour Wraps are pictured with chocolate and fruit, this flatbread has no extra sugar--use it for enchiladas or as a savory crepe or wrap! This Pound Cake mixes equal amounts of Coconut Flour and our Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour and is flavored with orange juice and vanilla. The dense yet tender texture and rich flavor make it a delectable gluten free dessert! [caption id="attachment_1169577" align="alignright" width="350"] Red Velvet Cake Pops made with coconut flour![/caption] A delightful cross between a cupcake and a lollipop, these Red Velvet Cake Pops are well worth the effort. This traditional Southern cake is reimagined with coconut flour, cocoa, buttermilk and lots of red food coloring. #ProTip: mix with cream cheese frosting instead of vanilla for extra authenticity. Ready for a dramatic finish? Make our Coconut Dutch Baby with Kahlua Bananas. Bananas are sauteed in a cinnamon-butter and Kahlua sauce and spooned atop a moist, delicious Dutch baby made with coconut flour, eggs and coconut milk. How many ways do you use coconut flour and shredded coconut? Do you have any favorite recipes to share? Post them below!