Our Values
Kelapo™ is organic, vegetarian, and certified Fair Trade coconut oil
See how we ensure the best possible product from the source to your kitchen.
Sustainable Farming
We all love coconuts and want to be able to enjoy them for many, many years to come! That’s why we use coconuts that come from Serendipol, farmers who take organic seriously.
Fair Trade
Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is Fair Trade certified according to the Fair for Life standard. This program was created to improve economic conditions in developing countries by encouraging social accountability and fair trade.
Vegetarian Friendly Processing
Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Softgels are vegetarian approved by The Vegetarian Society.
You!
The unique flavors of our Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil turn any ordinary meal into a truly indulgent experience.
Sustainable Farming
Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is cold pressed from fresh coconut meat (also known as copra), that is harvested from organically cultivated coconut palms, grown exclusively on Fair Trade farms on the island of Sri Lanka.
Coconuts are harvested year round, but maximum yields fall in the April-July period. Coconut growers harvest coconuts every 6-8 weeks. Harvesting is done by groups of contractors who carry long bamboo poles equipped with knives and cut the ripe fruit bunches from the treetops. Very tall trees are harvested by specialized workers who carefully climb the trees and retrieve the coconuts.
Farm workers then collect nuts in piles. Freshly harvested coconuts must mature for about 3 weeks until the white kernel can be easily removed from the hard coconut shell. After maturation, the fresh coconut meat is completely air dried and the oils are pressed out mechanically and collected. Because we harvest pure unrefined coconut oil, there is no need to apply heat or chemical elements during the cold expellar pressed process.
Practices of the farmers we source from include the use of non-chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. They also include maintenance and improvement of soil fertility, weed control and pest control by natural means. Our growers are provided with custom made compost that meets the nutrient needs of coconut palms. Mulch is also used that contains coconut leaves and fronds, which provide high levels of potassium needed by the trees for fruit production.
As is common with tree crops in the tropics, many growers had in the past neglected to maintain the soil fertility of their estates, and yields had declined over time to typically 2500 nuts per acre, per year. Over a three to five year period, the use of organic practices will, on the average, increase that yield to some 4,000 nuts per acre, per year. An average coconut palm can produce 75 to 200 nuts per year and live to be up to 100 years old.
Even in transport, we employ practices that are supporting the sustainability of our environment. Our shipments are packaged in special totes that can store as much as two to six drums in 20% less space. Plus, the totes contain no metal and are completely recyclable and biodegradable.
Links to Coconut Sustainability by Local Governments:
Fair Trade
ECOCERT is a third-party inspection agency that guarantees human rights during all stages of production, good and fair working conditions and fair shares for small farmers.
Currently, we work with a collection of farmers, organized through Serendipol Private Limited. Their farms are ranked on a numerical scale for social issues (hired labor), fair trade issues, and environmental issues. We are proud to say that Serendipol far exceeds the minimum required points for certification on each of the three categories. Serendipol is an enterprise that always focuses on good working conditions and organic production.
Additionally, the “Fair for Life” premium we pay on all coconut oil purchased from Sri Lanka, supports a wide range of community development projects, including worker’s welfare, education, and health care.
For more information regarding the “Fair for Life” certification process and information about our specific certification, please visit: www.fairforlife.net.
Vegetarian Friendly Processing
Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Softgels are vegetarian approved by The Vegetarian Society. Based out of the UK, the Vegetarian Society, is the oldest vegetarian organization in the world. Our products are free from animal parts, contain no eggs or dairy, free from genetically modified organisms, cruelty free, and are not cross contaminated during the production process.
Look for the Vegetarian Approved logo on all Kelapo products. Remember, Kelapo™ Coconut Softgels, are the first and only vegetarian approved coconut softgel on the market.
You!
Used for centuries by the indigenous people of the South Pacific, the truth about coconut oil is out. Extra virgin coconut oil can be used as a replacement for butter and oils.
Check out all the benefits of coconut oil for yourself. Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil your new secret ingredient for cooking and baking! Every part of the coconut lends itself to a practical use, thus making it one of the most versatile fruits in nature.
In particular, the all-natural oil derived from fresh coconuts can be used in a wide variety of applications:
Cooking: Bye, bye butter. Use Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil where you would normally use butter. Our favorites are on toast, bread, potatoes, popcorn and more. Leave your coconut oil in the pantry for a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Baking: When recipes call for butter, vegetables oils and other hydrogenated oils that contain trans fat, reach instead for Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Our recommendation is to warm the coconut oil until it is in a liquid state. Then measure out the amount called for by the recipe. Use a 1 to 1 ratio. Your favorite pastries will be moist and tasty! Also, instead of spraying your cookie sheet or cupcake tins with a non-stick spray, try using coconut oil for a little extra coconut taste.
Sauteing: Vegetables are great when they are sauteed in extra virgin coconut oil. Place a tablespoon of Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in your sauce pan on low heat and then add your favorite vegetables. For slightly less coconut taste, heat the coconut oil for longer before adding additional ingredients.