In the last decade, the humble coconut has experienced a tremendous boom in the Western world. It has gone from being an exotic tropical fruit, limited to desserts and the occasional pina colada, to an important pantry staple in its many forms coconut oil, water, milk, cream, sugar, flour, flakes, chips and more.

The growing wellness industry has encouraged consumers to fold more coconut products into their lives. Coconut oil, for instance, has been touted for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and even fat-burning properties.

But theres another side to the demand for more coconut: It poses a threat to the environment and fails to produce living wages for farmers.

While environmentalists encourage people to eat locally, sustainably and with a minimal carbon footprint, there is nothing local or usually even continental about the consumption of coconut in the United States and Europe, the largest importers of coconut products.