A worker gathers shelled Babassu nuts prior pressing at the Cooperative of Agro-extractivist Producers Lago de Junco (COPALJ) in Maranhao State. The Babassu palm, native to this northeastern corner of Brazil, is an important part of the local culture and economy - more than 60 products come from it including oil used for cooking and cosmetics as well as the nutshell that is used as cooking fuel.