Hand-Harvested Hope: Why We Source Shea Butter From the Women of Northern Ghana

Alex Wright
May 3
2 min read

Updated: May 15

Why We Source Shea Butter From the Women of Northern Ghana

…and How Our New Non-Profit, Support African Workers, Is Changing an Unfair Industry

Shea butter is prized worldwide for its vitamins, fatty acids, and soothing texture—yet the women who rise before dawn to gather each nut often receive only a fraction of its final value. At Good Health Extracts we’re committed to rewriting that story—first through women-only, fair-trade sourcing, and now through a dedicated nonprofit initiative.

1 | A Day in the Life of a Shea Harvester

Before sunrise, women in northern Ghana walk to wild shea groves, hand-picking fallen fruit beneath decades-old trees. After washing and sun-drying the nuts, they roast and grind them into a rich paste, churning over wood fires until ivory butter separates. The work is hot, smoky, and highly skilled—but it preserves nutrients lost in industrial extraction.

2 | The Hidden Economics of a Global Commodity

90 % of West-African shea enters the cosmetics and chocolate industries.
Women perform up to 80 % of the labor yet keep as little as 5 % of retail value once middle-men and multinationals take their cut.
Price swings and lack of storage force many to sell fast at whatever rate buyers dictate.(Sources: Global Shea Alliance & UN Women field studies, 2023)

3 | Our Promise: Women-Only Supply Chains

Good Health Extracts works exclusively with women-led cooperatives. Each season we guarantee

Fair-trade pricing above local market rates.
50 % advance payments so co-ops avoid predatory loans.
Investment in warehouse space so women can store nuts and negotiate from strength.

This model provides predictable income that covers school fees, healthcare, and community projects.

4 | Introducing Support African Workers

Ethical purchasing is a start—systemic change needs deeper investment. We’ve launched Support African Workers (SAW), a registered 501(c)(3) that channels a share of every sale—and 100 % of direct donations—into three focus areas:

Program	Goal	2026 Target
Skills & Equipment Grants	Fund mechanical roasters, solar dryers, PPE	Equip 10 co-ops (≈ 1,200 women)
Micro-Enterprise Loans	Seed capital for soap, candle, or food ventures using shea by-products	$50 k revolving loan fund
Education & Health Clinics	Scholarships, maternal care, malaria nets	Support 2,000 families

Women cooperative leaders sit on SAW’s board, ensuring resources flow where they’re needed most.

5 | How You Can Help

Choose empowerment-driven products. Every jar of our healing butter or lotion contains shea sourced directly from these women.
Donate or volunteer. Visit supportafricanworkers.com to give or share professional skills (marketing, accounting, agronomy).
Share the story. Post this blog on social media with #SupportAfricanWorkers—raising awareness shifts demand toward ethical brands.

From Hands to Hearts

When you smooth our butter onto your skin, you’re feeling the labor, knowledge, and resilience of Ghanaian women. Through fair trade and Support African Workers, we can ensure those same hands earn the dignity and prosperity they deserve.

Thank you for being part of the change.

—The Good Health Extracts & Support African Workers Team

Questions?📧 goodhealthextracts@gmail.com🌍 supportafricanworkers.com