With honey that glows like amber, cashews from thriving orchards, and piripiri with a kick, Gorongosa’s small-scale producers are making a name for themselves.
Making sure local cashew, honey, and piripiri products meet the highest food safety and quality standards is a top priority for area producers. To support this goal—and to help them reach larger markets—the Gorongosa Restoration Project, in partnership with AAU TECHNICAL LDA, hosted a two-day HACCP training for 20 technicians in Gorongosa District in early June, reflecting the rapid growth in both production and participation in the Park’s sustainable value chains.
The training focused on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, an internationally recognized system that ensures food safety from farm to fork. Participants dove into the details of identifying risks and strengthening controls for each stage of the honey, cashew, and piripiri production processes. The goal: to boost product quality and protect both consumers and the workers who bring these products to life. Organizers expect the knowledge shared will have ripple effects—leading to increased production, safer workplaces, and stronger income opportunities across the region.
Three of Gorongosa’s most promising value chains were represented:
- Honey: Spread across five districts (Gorongosa, Cheringoma, Muanza, Nhamatanda, and Maringué), this network includes over 500 beekeepers managing roughly 6,200 hives.
- Cashew: Active in six districts and supporting more than 4,400 beneficiaries, the program has planted over 180,000 trees, with more still to come.
- Piripiri: This spicy newcomer to the lineup already involves more than 100 producers across four districts and is gaining momentum quickly.
Following the classroom sessions, trainees visited the Gorongosa Honey Processing Factory in Mapombue. The facility is a standout in the region, with capacity to process up to 100 tons of honeycomb each year. Factory supervisor Juvêncio António noted the beekeeping program now supports hundreds of beekeepers and continues to expand as demand for quality honey grows.
