This vanilla comes from the far north eastern corner of Madagascar. The Mazava Vanilla Cooperative is a group of ten vanilla growers from the countryside around Ambalamanasy. The cooperative is not as yet legally constituted, but originated from two years of collaboration between Barry Ferguson and the vanilla farmers of Ambalamanasy-II. The concept of 'Mazava Vanilla' came from a mutual desire between the vanilla growers and the students working with them to establish a system with more equitable sharing of benefits from the vanilla trade than is normally the case. Mazava is the Malagasy word for clear/transparent/understood. The cooperative is currently dormant due to lack of funds but a small supply of 2kg was brought to NI by Barry Ferguson - if there is sufficient demand and support for this transparently sourced vanilla this can support the cooperative to be active again.