Our future results of operations may be adversely affected by the availability of Non-GMO and organic ingredients.
Our ability to ensure a continuing supply of Non-GMO and organic ingredients at competitive prices depends on many factors beyond our control, such as the number and size of farms that grow organic crops, climate conditions, changes in national and world economic conditions, currency fluctuations and forecasting adequate need of seasonal ingredients.
The organic ingredients that we use in the production of our products (including, among others, coffee, coconut sugar and extra virgin coconut oil) are vulnerable to adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, water scarcity, temperature extremes, frosts, earthquakes and pestilences. Natural disasters and adverse weather conditions (including the potential effects of climate change) can lower crop yields and reduce crop size and crop quality, which in turn could reduce our supplies of Non-GMO and organic ingredients or increase the prices of Non-GMO and organic ingredients. If our supplies of Non-GMO and organic ingredients are reduced, we may not be able to find enough supplemental supply sources on favorable terms, if at all, which could impact our ability to supply product to our customers and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We also compete with other manufacturers in the procurement of Non-GMO and organic product ingredients, which may be less plentiful in the open market than conventional product ingredients. This competition may increase in the future if consumer demand for Non-GMO and organic products increases. This could cause our expenses to increase or could limit the amount of product that we can manufacture and sell.
Adverse weather conditions, fires, natural disasters, crop disease, pests and other natural conditions can impose significant costs and losses on our business.
Agricultural products are vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, including severe rains, drought and temperature extremes, floods and windstorms, which are quite common but difficult to predict. Agricultural products also are vulnerable to crop disease and to pests, which may vary in severity and effect, depending on the stage of production at the time of infection or infestation, the type of treatment applied and climatic conditions. Unfavorable growing conditions caused by these factors can reduce both crop size and crop quality and, in extreme cases, entire harvests may be lost. Additionally, adverse weather or natural disasters, including fires, earthquakes, winter storms, droughts, or volcanic events, could impact our manufacturing and business facilities in Sisters, Oregon, which could result in significant costs and meaningfully reduce our capacity to fulfill orders and maintain normal business operations. Sisters, Oregon is located in an area subject to seasonal forest fires and fire risk. These factors may result in lower sales volume and increased costs due increased costs of products. Incremental costs, including transportation, may also be incurred if we need to find alternate short-term supplies of products from alternative areas. These factors can increase costs, decrease revenues and lead to additional charges to earnings, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Climate change may negatively affect our business and operations.
There is concern that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may have an adverse impact on global temperatures, weather patterns and the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters. In the event that such climate change has a negative effect on agricultural productivity, we may be subject to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for certain commodities that are necessary for our products, such as coconut milk powder, organic coconut sugar, organic extra virgin coconut oil and freeze dried coconut water. As a result of climate change, we may also be subjected to decreased availability of water, deteriorated quality of water or less favorable pricing for water, which could adversely impact our manufacturing and distribution operations, as well as the agricultural businesses of our suppliers, which rely on the availability and quality of water.
Our production equipment may be damaged, adversely affecting our ability to meet consumer and wholesale demand.
A significant proportion of our products are produced at our manufacturing facility in Sisters, Oregon. A significant disruption at that facility or to any of our key production equipment, even on a short-term basis, could impair our ability to timely produce and ship products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations. In the past, we have had manufacturing delays due to damaged and malfunctioning equipment and cannot fully insure against the effects of such delays on our business. Our manufacturing operations are vulnerable to interruption and damage from natural and other types of disasters, including earthquake, fire, floods, volcanic events, draughts, environmental accidents, winter storms, power loss, disease outbreaks or pandemics such as the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, communications failures and similar events. If any disaster were to occur at our facility, our ability to operate our business at our facilities would be seriously impaired.
We rely on a small number of suppliers to provide our raw materials, and our supply chain may be interrupted and prevent us from obtaining the necessary materials we need to operate.
We rely on suppliers and vendors to meet our high-quality standards and supply products in a timely and efficient manner. There is, however, no assurance that quality natural and organic products will continue to be available to meet our specific and growing needs. This may be due to, among other reasons, problems with our suppliers’ and vendors’ businesses, finances, labor relations, ability to export materials, product quality issues, costs, production, insurance and reputation, as well as disease outbreaks or pandemics such as the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, acts of war, terrorism, natural disasters, fires, earthquakes, flooding or other catastrophic occurrences. If for any reason our suppliers or vendors became unable or
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