'Free, local and special': argan oil co-ops booming in Morocco

Morocco's 'gold' is providing jobs for hundreds of women in a thriving network of co-operatives, and helping to reduce desertification amid climate change

Ripe, yellow argan berries fall to the ground in the courtyard of the Ajddigue women's argan co-operative in the village of Tidzi, 25km south of Essaouira. Under the argan trees handmade beauty products are on sale.

Khaltoum Alta, who has worked at this co-op since 2005, deftly smashes a dried nut shell on a stone, discarding the bitter kernel and picking out the almond heart of the argan fruit.