| Why fair trade chocolate is important | | | | trade chocolate, farmers often work together with |
| | | | their buyers to conduct community development |
| Few of us dislike chocolate, which explains its relative | | | | projects. Some of the money made by the farmers |
| popularity as well as the growing interest in fair trade | | | | is pooled and re-invested in the community to |
| chocolate. As a confection that figures into most | | | | establish scholarship programs, conduct training in |
| major holidays, and as a treat that’s enjoyed by | | | | organic chocolate cultivation, or providing health care |
| young and old year-round, its effect on the planet | | | | programs. |
| and the communities that produce it is significant. As | | | | Environmental sustainability |
| consumers gain an understanding of the serious social | | | | Finally, farmers who are able to sell to fair trade |
| and environmental issues associated with | | | | chocolate companies are also encouraged and/or |
| conventionally-grown chocolate, Fair Trade Certified | | | | required to use environmentally-sensitive cultivation |
| and organic chocolate is gaining a loyal following. | | | | methods. In general, they are discouraged from |
| But what is fair trade chocolate, what why is it | | | | clearing virgin forests or other ecosystems of high |
| important? Child slavery, unfair working conditions, | | | | value and using or handling pesticides and fertilizers. |
| and unsustainable farming practices all play into the | | | | Organic chocolate is often also made with Certified |
| concerns of a growing group of chocolate-lovers. | | | | Organic dairy, which ensures it is free of hormones |
| Child slavery | | | | commonly administered to cattle to stimulate milk |
| Fair trade chocolate is definitely a social issue, | | | | production. |
| especially in regions like Africa where most of the | | | | Types of Fair Trade and Organic Chocolate |
| world’s chocolate is grown. According to the | | | | Certifications |
| organization Global Exchange, the US State | | | | Today, there are several well-known fair trade |
| Department recently reported that 15,000 children | | | | certification systems used around the world to |
| aged 9 to 12 were working as enslaved laborers in | | | | ensure you receive a product that is third-party |
| plantations that grow chocolate, cotton, and coffee. | | | | verified to be better for the farmers and better for |
| In addition to the child slaves, as many as 284,000 | | | | the planet. |
| children are working on cacao farms with their | | | | TransFair USA |
| parents because their parents cannot afford school. | | | | TransFair USA is one fair trade certifier that ensures |
| Working conditions on these farms can be quite | | | | you get a consistent fair trade chocolate product |
| hazardous. Dangerous tasks like working with | | | | every time. A nonprofit organization, this group |
| machetes and applying toxic chemicals like insecticides | | | | encourages fair prices, fair labor conditions, direct |
| and pesticides without protective gear are common. | | | | trade arrangements, community development |
| These children also work long hours at very | | | | projects, sustainable chocolate growing methods, and |
| strenuous tasks with little nourishment. And | | | | other socially- and environmentally-aware practices. |
| amazingly, although these children work with cacao | | | | They operate under the umbrella organization |
| for years, they have never tasted chocolate. | | | | Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International. |
| Unfair pricing | | | | Rainforest Alliance |
| Yet children aren’t the only ones suffering | | | | Understanding that forests in tropical regions are |
| without fair trade certifications. Adult farmers see a | | | | being cut down to cultivate chocolate, the founders |
| disproportionately small amount of profit for their | | | | of the Rainforest Alliance certification program |
| labors and are also forced to work in unfair and | | | | established a set of standards to protect these |
| unsafe conditions. Non-fair trade chocolate companies | | | | valuable ecological areas. Farmers must abide by |
| have refused to establish stable and sufficient prices | | | | standards for ecological preservation, soil and water |
| for cocoa, and as a result, prices fluctuate and are | | | | conservation, humane working conditions, integrated |
| often well below production costs. | | | | crop management, waste management, and so on. |
| | | | USDA Certified Organic |
| According to Fairtrade Labelling Organizations | | | | The USDA Certified Organic label is another sign of |
| International, only one penny from a typical candy | | | | sustainably-produced chocolate. Certified Organic |
| bar will go to the farmer. This forces cacao farmers | | | | chocolate must be grown without pesticides and |
| to adopt additional industries to support their families, | | | | fertilizers and is usually shade-grown, meaning it |
| like raising livestock or growing alternate crops. | | | | doesn’t require the chopping down of valuable |
| Environmentally unsustainable | | | | trees. |
| To add insult to injury, most farmers feel obligated | | | | Fair Trade chocolate facts |
| to use chemicals to control pests and spur on the | | | | Fair trade chocolate and organically-grown chocolate |
| growth of their chocolate. These pesticides, | | | | equals sustainable chocolates. Purchase them when |
| insecticides, and fertilizers pollute their soil and water | | | | you can to support farmers and a healthier planet. In |
| and make the farmers themselves ill, feeding into the | | | | the meantime, consider these interesting organic and |
| problem of poverty. | | | | fair trade chocolate facts. |
| Additionally, non-organic chocolate often requires that | | | | Countries producing Fair Trade and Certified Organic |
| a farmer clear the trees in their area. This leaves | | | | cacao |
| them vulnerable to topsoil loss, reductions in water | | | | |
| retention, increased rates of flooding, and other | | | | - Belize |
| devastating environmental conditions that further trap | | | | - Bolivia |
| them in the cycle of poverty. | | | | - Brazil |
| What sustainable chocolate looks like | | | | - Cameroon |
| So what is Fair Trade Certified chocolate and how | | | | - Columbia |
| can organic chocolate growers benefit from different | | | | - Costa Rica |
| farming methods? | | | | - The Dominican Republic |
| Direct trade | | | | - Ecuador |
| Fair trade chocolate is one of the ways to help | | | | - El Salvador |
| farmers get out of poverty. By using a direct trade | | | | - Ghana |
| system, farmers enter into contracts with cocoa | | | | - Guatemala |
| buyers that guarantee them a minimum price for | | | | - Haiti |
| their beans. This helps farmers maintain a stable | | | | - Honduras |
| income that is sustainable for providing for their | | | | - India |
| family’s needs. | | | | - Ivory Coast |
| Fair labor conditions | | | | - Mexico |
| When selling to fair trade chocolate companies, cacao | | | | - Nicaragua |
| farmers are prohibited from employing | | | | - Panama |
| children—whether they are child slaves or their | | | | - Peru |
| own offspring—from working on the farm until | | | | Quantity of chocolate eaten by average American |
| they are 18 years of age (although some work is | | | | The average American eats approximately 12 pounds |
| allowed by blood relatives if it does not interfere with | | | | of chocolate every year. |
| schooling). This ensures the community’s children | | | | Quantity of certified organic chocolate sold in the US |
| are getting a good education and are not working in | | | | Sales of fair trade and organic chocolate are gaining |
| harsh and unhealthy conditions. | | | | market share, with 2006 growth in this market at |
| Community development | | | | about 49 percent. |
| In addition to the above benefits associated with fair | | | | |