Organic Coconut Oil:
How Did Your Coconut Oil
Really Come About?

Organic coconut oil is the result, first and foremost, of coconut farming practices that rely very little, if any, on artificial inputs. Organic coconut oil production emphasizes feeding of the soil, rather than the tree.

Organic Means Natural All the Way

Organic farming in general takes into account minimum dependence on man-made or unnatural activities. Whether you are dealing with trees, plants or livestock, the idea is to let the crop cultivate on its own as much as possible.

Food safety practices is high on the list of criteria used for determining whether a produce is organic or not. Certifying bodies such as ISO and HACCP discourage the use of hazardous chemicals from farm, to distribution, to marketing.

The entire production and distribution chain, not the product itself, are the important factors in organic growing. This approach differs from traditional quality assurance methods which put great emphasis on the end product.

Farm Location Can Be Crucial

In Quezon Province, some 300 kilometers south of where I live and where coconut palm trees are almost everywhere, coconut farming is ideally done far away from congested cities. This is to ensure minimal contamination from both air and ground pollution.

Some of the best organic coconuts produced are cultivated within close proximity to a volcano. That's because the soil surrounding volcanoes is rich in minerals and nutrients.

Conventional pesticides and fertilizers degrade the quality of crops. This could affect the amount of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) plentifully found in coconut oil. The nutritional facts on organic unrefined coconut oil are inherently very impressive but needless synthetic chemical inputs dilute and lessen its nourishing and disease-combating capabilities.

Coconuts are Fundamentally Organic

Although coconut growing is naturally organic, more and more farmers are practicing intercropping. They grow other crops underneath the tall coconut trees. This could raise questions about the organic nature of coconut oil products, as well as, the organic claims of some coconut-based establishments.

Organic Copra?

Interestingly, some organic coconut oil designation agencies don't seem to distinguish between copra and fresh coconut kernel. Copra is the dried meat of the coconut fruit and is also sometimes called desiccated coconut (DCN), which DCN processors vehemently reject.

Copra is typically used to produce RBD (Refined, Bleached and Deodorized) oil. Because of the refining, bleaching and deodorizing process necessary for sanitation from bacteria, mold and other contaminants, RBD oil no longer contains natural antioxidant properties, not to mention that fresh coconut aroma and flavor.

Furthermore, some certifying bodies do allow for solvent use in the oil extraction. This is unacceptable and I wouldn't be surprised if countless others feel the same. Using chemical solvents has no place in manufacturing natural or virgin coconut oil.

Beware of "Scam-Organics"

There's a rich mix of coconut oil products here in the Philippines. It's to be expected as there are coconut palms here almost everywhere you go. A lot are high-grade, just like what my wife regularly makes right in our own kitchen.

But every once in a while, I still encounter highly processed varieties passed on as organic extra virgin coconut oil. What a bunch of greedy jokers.... They're cheap so people are sometimes fooled into buying at first. Give them six months and they're out of business.

As I was in the health food section of a popular supermarket here in Metro Manila, I overheard a couple arguing whether fractionated coconut oil is just like ordinary coconut oil or not. Of course I knew better but I really didn't want to butt in.

I was pleasantly surprised when the guy asked me to referee their debate. And it didn't take long to convince the wife that the husband was correct in saying that fractionated coconut oil is different.

Go Certified, Pick Your Fancy, or Both

Now certified organic coconut oil is certainly preferable but comes at a price. Producers of this superior oil adhere to stringent regulations laid out by different accrediting agencies. As a result, part of the expenses incurred is passed on to you, the consumer.

Individual preference has a lot to do with coconut oil purchasing, in my experience. Don't forget that coconut oil is a food so make sure you get one that is in agreement with your nose and tongue.

Bottom line? Know how your coconut oil came about. Choose organic coconut oil and make sure it's certified. MCFA or MCT is one of nature's most effective ways of fighting disease, just to name one, and is abundantly present in organic coconut oil.