Veitinia explores into VCO business

Submitted by TemoL on Thu, 11/03/2010 - 10:34am

By: Monika Mala, Ministries of Primary Industries

Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is gaining popularity into the market as its increasing awareness on health benefits is spreading into houses.

People are showing keen interest to explore into extracting VCO at subsistence, semi-commercial and few to commercial level.

Veitinia Lua Lesuma is also one of the passionate users of coconut oil who has turned her hobby into a small business.

Lesuma originally hails from Somosomo in Taveuni and is settled in Suva with her husband and 5 kids.

By profession she is a secretary and is a helping hand for her husband in running their dalo export business.

It was in September last year (2009) when she was introduced about the health benefits of VCO through Coconut Industry Development Authority (CIDA).

“Back in the village we used to extract oil from coconut and never realised the value of VCO,” said Ms Lesuma.

“I had some idea of Fijian traditional system of extracting oil and that made my work easier when taught about the VCO extraction,” she added.

Ms Lesuma said she has been in touch with CIDA all the time and has been working closely to grab the essence of quality standard VCO extraction.

“By nature VCO is well enclosed and protected by the two layers of coconut curd that retains the purity of the healthiest oil on earth,” said Ms Lesuma.

“I am always on the net searching for more information on VCO and was able to attend a workshop run by Dr Divina Bawalan, an International Coconut Processing Specialist from the Philippines, through SPC at Narere.” added Lesuma.

Ms Lesuma said that a dozen of coconut depending on size can produce 0.75 litres of VCO.

“I have been using the ‘Wet Milled’ process then the meat is “cold pressed” to get the coconut milk without any chemicals. The milk is then fermented in containers for about 16 to 17 hours after which the oil is produced.”

She said the first and the third layers are cooked to extract the second grade oil which is what normally many people know as coconut oil.

“The second layer which is premium VCO has been ignored for years and now that there is increasing awareness on this it is creating more and more demand everywhere,” said Ms Lesuma.

She filters the VCO twice to ensure there is no dirt left behind.

Lesuma emphasized that it is very important to ensure on the quality standard of the VCO.

“The end product should be as clear as water,” she said.

Lesuma added that one can make many products out of the coconuts and no wonder it is called the “Tree of Life” where each part of coconut has some use.

Ms Lesuma said she makes ginger oil, lemon grass oil, cooking oil, body scrubs, most fragrance of soap mixed with herbals and also in future is probably looking into making coconut flour.

She added that we have all the resources available and we have to make the right use of it.

“I personally believe that VCO is a product that women should seriously look into as it is a means to empower ladies to make money out of the cottage industry,” she urged.

Ms Lesuma said women are the first teachers of everything for the family and thus they can be the key to trigger the awareness and use of coconut oil in households.

“My plan is to go back into the village and teach ladies about the huge potential of coconut for domestic use and income generating, said Ms Lesuma.

Lesuma said the market for this commodity is also readily available but also added that the product must meet the standard for the market and must be sustainable at all times.

“I ensure that packaging is done at standard level with bottles closed air tight with labels attached to it highlighting briefly on the health tips on VCO, “ said Ms Lesuma.

She added that VCO is also mixed with ginger to make VCO ginger oil that is used to relief muscular pain.

Similarly she mixes lemongrass and VCO to make VCO lemongrass oil that controls body odour and the list goes on the use of VCO.

“My son is an athlete and I recommend to him to use VCO always and also this oil goes with our tropical climate since it is not sticky,” added Lesuma.

Ms Lesuma always surfs through the web to gather information on various users of VCO. She has also done a number of experiments on VCO soap making mixed with other herbals.

The by-product is also used to make body scrub by sun drying it.

It is recommended that we to take 1 -2 tablespoons of VCO on a daily basis for health benefits.

“I market my own products and also go to the extent of sharing my ideas with others to encourage its use as it has uncountable health benefits”.

Lesuma’s future plans are to expand her business and go into commercial level. Currently she is doing everything manually but need machinery to move it to
commercial level.
Lesuma has turned her hobby into business and is exploring its other benefits.