Cokodeal Blog

Commodities are economic goods, usually unprocessed that are used as raw materials in the production of other goods and services, or resold. They are grouped into agricultural goods (e.g grains, sugar), livestock and meat, metals (e.g gold, iron ore), and energy (e.g crude oil).

Ordering for commodities like Shea butter, dry ginger and others for your business should be easy but there are often trust issues that can get in the way. To meet your demand, timing, cost and trustworthiness often come into play. However, finding genuine sellers of commodities is the first critically important step before even timing and cost.

Here is a list of the top 5 places to find these genuine sellers:

Physical trade events

Trade events are exhibitions where businesses in a particular industry display and promote their products to prospective clients. The events are sometimes open to the general public while others are classified as ‘trade-only’. You’ll usually find sellers of commodities (exhibitors), company representatives, top professionals within the industry.

Attending a trade event grants you access to special pricing offers and valuable insights concerning the commodity you’re looking to purchase. The presence of different sellers of the same commodity provides a quicker means to evaluate them, compare prices and get competitive information within a short space of time. Also, face-to-face interaction with the sellers makes it easier to discuss specific features and conditions. Such discussions can build a close relationship that could be beneficial in the future.

Another advantage of trade events is the avenue they create for buyers to connect with one other. Here, they can discuss issues and together, find solutions to specific problems they encounter.

Online trade marketplaces

Over the past decades, the world has experienced an increase in transactions of economic activities online. Covid-19 had helped accelerate the need for online interactions too.

Online trade marketplaces are e-commerce platforms where buyers meet sellers. A third-party, the platform, mediates between the buyers and sellers. Some of these marketplaces serve multiple industries such as Alibaba. While others are focused on a specific industry e.g Cokodeal, which focuses on connecting African exporters and international buyers of foodstuff and commodities. The benefits they offer are innumerable. Not only can you shop for commodities of your choice from the comfort of your home, but you can also register for free and communicate with the sellers online.

You have access to a large pool of suppliers without having to physically move around expending energy. These platforms usually require the sellers to display complete information about their commodities so the buyer can make an informed decision. There are commodity descriptions, photos, specifications and price. The seller can also specify if the stated price is negotiable or not. They also help verify the suppliers to ensure the safety of the platform.

One beneficial feature online trade marketplaces has is the availability of reviews. Former customers of a seller often leave reviews on the site. So any prospective buyer can read through and determine if the seller sells genuine commodities, is trustworthy, and has good customer service.

Online forums

Online forums such as Nairaland and Quora bring different people together to share their views on different issues.

There are subforums where people can discuss business issues, too. Sellers often take advantage of the online traffic on these sites to advertise their commodities. The online forums serve as a platform for buyers to openly discuss the price and features of the commodities with the sellers without making any commitment.

The only disadvantage is the fact that sellers are unverified and not moderated. But, buyers can some times research a seller by asking other buyers on the platform about them before buying their commodities.

Word of mouth

Word of mouth is a very powerful tool in business. Satisfied customers of a seller are always happy to refer new customers to the seller. Word of mouth is intensely personal as it takes a lot of trusts for people to make referrals.

Customers usually get no financial benefits in speaking well about a seller, so the believability of the recommendation is high. If a former buyer claims that a seller is genuine more often than not, it is true. This is also why reviews on online marketplaces are powerful – it’s another form of word of mouth.

Business directories

Business directories can be found online or in telephone books. Finding genuine sellers of commodities on business directories is quite easy.

The directories are listed by industry so you can quickly find sellers of whatever kind of commodities you’re looking for. The directories give the phone number, email and other important information about the seller. This helps in saving both time and money.

However, you have to already know what you want when using business directories. It’s often best to use an online marketplace or online forum and only use a business directory to cross-reference the address of the business.

Sesame seeds are one of the oldest oil seeds known to man. They are gotten from the Sesame plant (Sesamum indicum) which originated in India. These seeds have been used for thousands of years as a culinary condiment due to rich nutty flavour they give to meals.

They are used in baked foods, sprinkled on bread buns, ground into soups, used in manufacturing margarine and so on. These delicate seeds are a rich source of antioxidants, dietary fibre, omega-6, amino acids like tryptophan and fat-burning polyphenols like sesamin and sesamol., vitamins B and E, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. All these contribute to the numerous health benefits they pack.

Some Features of Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds have been shown to lower cholesterol level, boost digestion and hair growth, prevent cancer, manage diabetes, improve oral health, and many more.
Sesame seeds come in various forms – white, brown, or black.

The black ones are hulled and have a richer flavour than white or brown ones. They are more bitter and have a crispier crunch when compared to the other forms. They also contain more calcium and are usually used for medicinal purposes. The white ones are unhulled and have higher iron and carbohydrate content. They are mostly used as ingredients in foods.

Sesame oil, which is derived from the seeds, is used as a highly potent flavour enhancer in many dishes. However, it shouldn’t be used as a frying oil due to its low smoke point which means it burns even at low temperatures.

It is very important to buy quality seeds so as to get all the nutrition it can provide and also prevent all the adverse effects that come with consuming bad seeds. When picking sesame seeds, here are some tips to help to purchase the best ones.

Tips For Buying Quality Sesame Seeds

Examine the physical characteristics of the seeds

The seeds must be uniform in texture, structure and look. They should not be shrivelled, mottled from any kind of disease, moulded, or discoloured. The seeds should also be free from stones, leaves, debris, insect-damaged seeds, seeds of other plants and other impurities.

Check the packaging (either tin or sack) for any evidence of moisture.

The presence of moisture in the seeds may cause them to deteriorate quickly due to microbial growth and heating. Moisture also lowers the storage life of the seeds as it has been proven that for each rise of one per cent in moisture content, the storage life of the seeds is halved.

Since sesame seeds have a very high oil content, they can become rancid surprisingly fast. Rancidity is the complete or incomplete oxidation of oils when exposed to light, air, moisture, or bacteria causing an unpleasant odour (and sometimes taste) in the oil. In order to avoid purchasing rancid seeds, smell them properly before buying to ensure that they smell fresh. Note that hulled seeds are more prone to rancidity.

High quality sesame seeds are usually fleshier than the low quality ones. Always make sure the seeds are properly dried but not completely flat.

Check the colour of the seeds

The colour of black sesame seeds could vary from dark brown to mildly black to jet black. The jet black ones are the purest and have the highest quality so be sure to check for the colour.

Sesame seeds should be stored in an airtight container or sack, then placed in a cool, dark, and dry place. Improper storage could lead to contamination of the seeds and invasion of pests. If the seeds are not stored properly, it is advisable not to buy. It will not hurt to check out the storage facility of whatever company you wish you purchase from so you’ll be sure they store their seeds well.

Always try to buy seeds that have not been stored for too long to ensure maximal freshness. Buy from companies that have a high turnover rate so you’re certain the seeds are not stale.