Tagua Nuts

Often referred to as the 'Vegetable Ivory', the Tagua Nut has been used since the 19th century to make buttons, jewelry and carved objects.  The Tagua or Ivory Palm produces a nut (fruit) that, when dried, carves easily and has an appearance very similar to that of ivory, but without the needless sacrifice or injury to any elephants.  In fact, a palm's yearly harvest equals ivory from one female elephant.

The purchase of Tagua nut products help support the employment of roughly 35,000 native people.  The income they receive is a strong incentive to maintain the trees which helps stabilize the Rainforest and, ultimately, World environments