IRDs Cashew Cookbook Promotes Local African Agriculture and is a Gourmand International Cookbook Award Finalist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 7, 2013 CONTACT: MELISSA PRICE 571-366-1596 PRESS@IRD-DC.ORG
ARLINGTON, VA The Cashew Cookbook, published by International Relief & Development (IRD) in 2012, was recognized by Gourmand International as a finalist for its 2012 cookbook awards. The cookbook gathered the best recipes sampled during cashew festivals held in Banjul, The Gambia, and Ziguinchor, Senegal. The recipes were developed by professional chefs and amateur cooks under IRDs Cashew Enhancement Project as a way to promote the use of cashew in traditional African dishes and more modern fare. The cookbook was compiled by IRD Gambia Country Director Jo Anne Yeager Sallah to raise awareness about this tasty, nutritious, and economically important regional product. Delicately sweet and crunchy, heart healthy cashews are rich in dietary fiber, B vitamins, and essential minerals. Cashews are also a good source of monounsaturated fat, which can contribute to lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol and increase levels of good HDL cholesterol. Through the Cashew Enhancement Project, which is funded by the US Department of Agriculture through the Food for Progress initiative, IRD is working with the African Cashew Alliance and other partners to improve the quality and quantity of cashews grown in the region, increase exports, and raise incomes for growers and processors. Increased incomes mean families can access better healthcare, improved education, and long-term economic stability. Higher quality cashews raise incomes and profits and enable more investment along the entire cashew value chain, said Sallah. It is the kind of virtuous circle that improves both lives and livelihoods. We hope chefs and individuals cooking at home will use The Cashew Cookbook. The Cashew Cookbook www.ird.org/publications. is available free of charge on IRDs site at

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IRD is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization responsible for implementing relief, stability, and development programs worldwide. IRD's mission is to reduce the suffering of the world's most vulnerable groups and provide the tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency. Specializing in meeting the needs of communities emerging from conflict or natural disaster, IRD partners with donors, local organizations, and many others to deliver sustainable services in agriculture, governance, health, and infrastructure.
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