Madagascar Vanilla - Ethical and Sustainable
Lazaro builds a virtuous value chain around Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, its flagship product :
- For our clients : premium, authentic, 100% natural vanilla with powerful aromas - from flowering to export.
- For our producers : an ethical and sustainable partnership ensuring a decent and stable income.
- For the planet : an agriculture that respects forests, biodiversity, and future generations.
Traditional Cultivation and Malagasy Expertise
Lazaro celebrates the ancestral know-how inherited from Malagasy farmers. Every stage of the vanilla preparation process follows methods passed down for generations in the SAVA region, the birthplace of Bourbon vanilla.
In the humid forests of SAVA, the Vanilla planifolia orchid (Bourbon variety) blooms from October to January. Farmers carry out manual pollination - delicately transferring pollen from the stamen to the pistil - a crucial step for producing quality vanilla beans.
Eight to nine months after pollination, the mature pods are hand-picked and sorted to ensure uniform, export-grade batches according to size, maturity, and appearance.
The pods are blanched in water at 65-70°C to trigger fermentation and release vanillin, then alternately sun- and shade-dried for 4 to 8 weeks to concentrate their aroma and achieve the perfect moisture level.
Beans are graded by length and suppleness (Gourmet, Red Europe/USA, Black TK, etc.) and cured in wooden boxes at 18-20°C, protected from light, to stabilize moisture and intensify flavor.
Grading ensures beans are tailored to final uses - gastronomy, food industry, or cosmetics.
Vacuum-packed or bundled, each batch undergoes weight checks and phytosanitary control before secure export by sea or air freight to international gourmet markets.
Working in Harmony with Nature
In the SAVA region, Lazaro and local farmers cultivate vanilla within a 100% natural ecosystem. This generous environment fosters a sustainable and ethical agricultural model.
The vanilla vine grows in the shade of tall trees that serve as natural supports and maintain soil moisture - a perfect model of tropical agroforestry.
Climate and BiodiversityNature is the mother source of excellence. A humid tropical climate - with regular rainfall, 85% humidity, and temperatures between 15°C and 30°C - combined with fertile volcanic soils, produces an aromatic vanilla of exceptional quality.
Nurseries and Crop DiversityLazaro develops tree nurseries and a biological poultry and farming program, providing financial stability for farmers while meeting local market needs and protecting the environment.
100% Natural ProductionVanilla and spice cultivation is entirely natural - no pesticides, no chemicals, no GMOs. This guarantees pure, premium, and environmentally responsible products.
Training in Sustainable PracticesLazaro trains its planters in sustainable land management, supports organic farming in line with international standards, and promotes knowledge transmission to ensure long-term economic growth and fair trade.
Social and Cooperative Commitment
As a socially responsible company, Lazaro actively contributes to rural community development and ecosystem preservation, embracing a human and ethical vision of trade.
The “1000 Planters” Cooperative
Founded in 2024, the “1000 Planters of Madagascar” cooperative ensures:
- Community solidarity and cooperative projects
- Technical and financial support
- Inclusion of women
- Access to healthcare
- Decent wages and stable employment
- Zero child labor
- Access to education and academic success
- A community fund (rice savings system)
For trees and plants to thrive, for the animals that feed on them to prosper, and for humans to live, the earth must be honored.
Pierre Rabhi
Choosing Lazaro means uniting quality, nature, and solidarity. See our products and professional space.