Vanilla has a bitter taste to its producers. The tropical orchid plant, whose pods can be sold at a premium and are mostly imported from Madagascar, ranks among the least rewarding import sectors for producers, according to a study published on Thursday, April 17, on the "hidden side of imported foods in France." On average, vanilla producers in Madagascar earn only 40% of a decent minimum wage. "A luxury product in Northern countries, vanilla remains a survival crop for Southern countries," states the report, produced by Basic, a research firm specializing in environmental issues, for the Institut Veblen, Greenpeace France, and Max Havelaar France.

Cocoa tops the list of import sectors with the highest greenhouse gas emissions, particularly due to the deforestation it causes. In Côte d'Ivoire, one of the main producers, cocoa cultivation has led to the destruction of forest cover, which decreased by 80% between 1960 and 2010.

Coffee is among the crops that consume the most chemical inputs and is the most polluting for ecosystems, especially because it requires a large amount of water for post-harvest washing of the beans, contaminating rivers and groundwater.

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