A note from the CEO
Change, learn, adapt, and move. These are the essential elements of both running a business–and transitioning to adulthood. It’s surprising how much experience in one of these areas can mirror the other. Both involve exploring the breadth of your own capacity, cultivating connections with yourself and with others, and, crucially, confronting the illusion of control.
That last one–recognizing the illusion of control–is the most anxiety-inducing for me. If I’m not careful it can make effort and strategy feel meaningless. But, it also inspires courage and tenacity and a truly profound appreciation for the human connections that sustain us.
Success cannot sustain because it is fleeting and slippery–and often feels tied to a hierarchy, rather than community.
And, honestly, that way of living needs to be dispelled. We need to lean into the community, develop caring relationships, and become more accountable adults because we’re also, rapidly, losing the illusion of our control over the environment.
“With every additional increment of global warming, changes in extremes continue to be larger… there wil be an increasing occurrence of some extreme events…” – IPCC, CC 2021 Report.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released their latest 2021 Climate Change report and it states unequivocally that “Climate Change is already affecting every inhabited region across the globe with human influence contributing to many observed changes in weather and climate extremes.”
In case the wild flooding in China and Germany, wildfires in Greece, and insane droughts through North/West Africa weren’t enough to let us know climate change is having an impact today, this report makes the physical science evidence troublingly clear.
So, control…and not having it. We didn’t have it in the first place, so is it really a loss? I’m looking to the lessons of adulthood and business and embracing our capacity for change and adaptation. It is both the nature of our human hood – and an imperative of our current reality – to find a way to move forward.
This newsletter and this business are about more than convincing you to buy our product and support our business; I sincerely want to advocate, through my work and actions, for a way of being present in the world that is conscious, mindful, enjoyable and connected.
— Yvette
Business Highlights- GOING GLOBAL
We’re now supplying airlines!- We’re collaborating with the British High Commission on a climate change documentary ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26 | Glasgow, Scotland | 1st – 12th Nov 2021)
Find us in the air 😉
Yvaya Farm Dried Fruits are now available on all Delta flights between Accra and Washington DC! Super excited about what this may mean for our exposure.
We listed with internationally-acclaimed catering service Newrest Ghana in June and have since been supplying our dried fruit on the new direct flight.
SNACKING WITH A PURPOSE:
Chatting Agribusiness & COP 26 with Yvaya Farm and the British High Commission in Ghana
Happy to have been featured as part of a doc series from the British High Commission in Ghana highlighting climate-oriented work by British Ghanaians ahead of the United Nations 2021 Climate Change Conference.
Beverley Okoye, UK Climate Attaché to Ghana and West Africa, joined our CEO, Yvette, at the factory to answer 26 questions to mark the event. Yvette shared the need for agribusinesses to build circular systems of production, highlighting how Yvaya Farm’s system produces food, energy, and even useful by-products from waste.
Looking forward to COP26, Yvette says businesses on the ground expect to see a little more “tangible positive change”- including heightened information distribution on sustainable technologies and (local) availability of funds.
COP26 takes place in Glasgow, Scotland between 31st October to 12th November and is generally considered the most important climate summit since the landmark Paris Agreement was reached at COP21 in 2015—where 197 countries (including Ghana!) agreed to combat climate change and adapt to its impacts.
As COP26 President, the UK is seeking to work together with Heads of State, civil society, youth, and the private sector to inspire climate action. For the UK-Ghana specifically, COP26 is a chance to celebrate and stimulate existing and new collaborations in climate-positive agriculture and business.
Do you know of any businesses whose operations contribute to positive climate change? Share with us, we’d love to draw inspiration and spread the word to others!
It’s All Hands On Deck
At Yvaya Farm!
Speaking of change and adaptation… we tried a new thing.
During our last quarterly GM, we decided as a team to run a Staff Sales Competition. Our entire staff, including our CEO, COO, production manager, assistant production managers, production officers, AND communications officer, were challenged with selling as many Yvaya Farm snack pouches as possible in their respective communities.
The aim: to boost sales, gather market data, and give our staff the opportunity to develop communication skills. Everyone charges whatever price they want and can keep the profit (above the wholesale cost.)
We even have a bonus: Yvette, CEO, has pledged a cash reward of GHS 100 to whoever sells the largest number of packs within the one-month sales activity period of time. We’ll announce the winner in our next newsletter!
Africa Goodnest sharing Africa’s Goodness
Africa Goodnest, the brainchild of Bernice Yalley, started with a thought under a mango tree in her parents’ front yard. The mission: to bring Africa’s Goodness to market. The Goodnest team works closely with registered African brands to make it easier to discover and buy quality, branded consumables, crafted by local talent.
*PROMO CODE FOR OUR USA-BASED CUSTOMERS* Use YvayaCrew10 at check-out!
To celebrate finally having a steady, reliable supply of everyone’s favourite tropical dried fruit, Africa Goodnest is offering a 10% discount on Yvaya Farm purchases through the end of September. Buy a pouch for yourself or as a gift!
GAYO: Youth-led NGO Take On Climate Change Education
Read the amazing story of Desmond Alugnoa, 30, and Joshua Amponsem, 29 of youth-led African climate advocacy group, Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) by clicking the link below. They make the case for climate reparations and recognition….
Speak to you soon and wishing you good health!
