Argan Cooperative chez Telouet / Ait Benhaddou

There is a woman's cooperative processor of Argan oils near Ait Benhaddou. It is the size of a roadside curio shop, with 3-4 women working at breaking down the Argan nuts and grinding them by hand. You can buy the Argan oil there. It's in a rather pretty area near mountain passes. The Argan trees (those ones you see with goats climbing in them) are NOT THERE. The nuts are shipped in, I gather to give local people a way to make money. I certainly wouldn't drive from far away to see it, but if you pass it (and I think there are others in other areas), it's interesting to see.

Thanks for describing what can be seen and what not - indeed a good idea to pass by

Most co-ops are nothing of the sort, please read https://saadiaorganics.com/blogs/all/107768007-argan-oil-cooperatives-in-morocco-the-good-the-bad-and-the-unbelievable

I'm sure you're right about the argan coop we visited (on a GAdventures tour) being a "show" salesroom, although I never saw any men around. I'm sure the same could be said for the tile/mosaic factory we visited in Fes. I have toured alone, with small groups or a guide in Peru, Egypt, Kenya, Russia, Thailand, and all over Europe. Everywhere there are "opportunities" to buy Stuff which is Made On Site by Native Workers Who Otherwise Would Be Starving. I haven't stopped at "Indian Trading Posts" in the western US for many a year, but I would guess they still exist, with the "Made in China" stickers carefully removed.

Exit Through the Gift Shop!

Thanks Tim and Briegull1 for de-mystifying

Actually, this morning on CBS This Morning there was this video:
Why are there goats in the trees?
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/why-are-there-goats-in-the-trees

This is a lot more cheerful about the goats and the oil than TimCullis referred to.

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