What Is Fair Trade Cocoa?
When people purchase cocoa and cocoa products from farmers who are fairly paid for their work, their purchases are known as fair trade cocoa. To be listed as fair trade, cocoa must be purchased at a minimum price, or floor price. It also must not foster environmental harm nor forced or child labor. Fair trade cocoa is primarily produced in South and Central America. It is typically grown in Belize, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, Bolivia, and Nicaragua. Fair trade chocolate is often organic and natural as well. Organic cocoa that has not been treated with pesticides is generally more costly than non-organic cocoa. Though higher in cost, fair trade cocoa is considered an ethical choice by many people.
The Fair Trade Certified™ label on chocolate products guarantees consumers that the farmers who grew the cocoa are 1) paid a fair price for their harvest, 2) members of democratically organized cooperatives, and 3) have access to affordable credit. The Fair Trade price allows farmers to cover their costs of production as well as afford a decent standard of living for their families, send their children to school, and invest in the quality of their farms. • Is Fair Trade Certified cocoa available in the US? As of fall of 2002, you can buy Fair Trade Certified products in the US. Visit www.transfairusa.org/home.html to find a list of companies, which offer Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate products. • Why is Fair Trade cocoa important? Without Fair Trade, small cocoa growers typically have no access to affordable credit and are often forced to sell their crop in advance to middlemen at low prices. In the end, they receive only a fraction of their harvest’s worth. Fair Trade certification c
