Want Chocolate?
Try Fair Trade Chocolate?
You're going to buy chocolate anyway, why not buy fair trade chocolate? It's rich and delicious with one very big bonus. It was made from certified fair trade cacao or cocoa beans. Your purchase makes sure that you'll be getting wonderful tasting chocolate and that those involved in growing and harvesting cocoa beans also benefit.
Growers of cocoa beans face the same struggles as growers of other crops such as coffee or tea. Low prices paid for crops and expensive middlemen that lower the income to the farmer even further.
Abuses of child labor This is a particular problem with cocoa crops especially affecting many regions like those in West Africa where cocoa is the main source of income. It has been estimated that thousands of children most between the ages of 9 thru 12 work to harvest cocoa beans on these farms. Many of these children are sold by desperately poor parents to traffickers believing they will be given work, hopefully have a better life and be able to send money home. But more often, once the child leaves the home, they may receive little or no pay for long, hard hours cutting cocoa pods from trees with machetes high above their heads, splitting them open and removing the pods.
Hard physical work for an adult. What's it like for a child?
Back in 2001, media attention was brought to child labor abuses in the chocolate industry. The Chocolate Manufacturers Association, representing the chocolate industry promised to make changes and put a certification process in place to eliminate the worse child labor abuses. This was to be completed by July 2005. This process is still not in place.Surely the largest chocolate manufacturers with their tremendous buying power have the ability to see to it that changes are made but have not done so. Why not? Why can't they buy their cocoa beans from fair trade cooperatives? It's not happening yet.
So what can we do? Buy fair trade chocolate. Child labor is strictly prohibited by fair trade standards. Fair trade certified farms are inspected to make sure they meet these standards. Farmers receive a fair price for their crops. They have access to credit and receive education in environmentally sound growing practices such as traditional ways of growing cocoa plants under the shade of large trees where plants can be grown with minimal intervention. This preserves the ecology of the rain forest and all of it's animal and bird inhabitants. Improved conditions for farmers of fair trade chocolate helps provide better more stable incomes so they are better able to take care of their families and educate their children without being forced into desperate situations.
Fair trade chocolate can be found at health food stores and some grocery stores. Ask for it if you can't find it. It helps if grocery stores know we want these products.I recently purchased chocolate that called itself ethically traded but did not carry any fair trade certified logo. They source their beans from small family owned farms that receive income that provides well for the farmers and their communities. It provides assurance when we see a fair trade logo but not all companies seek certification but they may still follow fair trade practices. My best recommendation if you choose to purchase from these companies is to learn more about them and see if it is easy to find plenty of information that supports their claims.
Where To Shop Online Divine Chocolate is a UK company that just recently has been available in stores in the US. Their chocolate is from cocoa beans grown in Ghana. The company was formed to support the co op of growers in this area who have been working hard to make sure their farmers were treated fairly. The greatest focus has been on fair trade so not certified organic at this time. Organic certification takes time, knowledge and it can be expensive. Right now it is seen as too much of a risk to the wellbeing of growers to persue organic certification. Can be purchased online in the US at A Greater Gift Global Exchange carries a selection of fair trade chocolates from different companies. There is surely something here for all of us chocolate lovers and you'll be supporting one of the larger supplier of fair trade items. For your next chocolate indulgence go to Global Exchange Online StoreI offer several recommendations on the organic chocolate page. Not all of the chocolate has been fair trade certified but all of these companies work hard to insure that their chocolate is not only organic but has been sourced from growers that treat their workers according to fair trade standards. You will see this if you check in depth on their websites. Maybe it's my imagination but fair trade chocolate tastes better. You'll just have to find out for yourself. Do a taste test. I know it's a tough job but you can handle it.
Back to fair trade products.
Return to homepage from fair trade chocolate.
Need a caffeine jolt check out fair trade coffee.
|
