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Fair trade practices in the chocolate industry aim to promote sustainable and ethical cocoa production. With Europe being the largest cocoa-processing region, global influences affect local markets, including taxes and currency fluctuations. Fair trade ensures cocoa growers receive above-market prices, prioritizing no slavery in production and sustainable practices. American consumers spend $13 billion annually on cocoa products, with over 42,000 certified fair-trade cocoa farmers. Yet, growers face challenges such as lack of education, healthcare, and access to markets. Supporting fair trade can improve communities and the chocolate industry.
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Fair Trade and Chocolate Promoting a Fair and Sustainable Industry
The Global Nature of Chocolate • Global Influences • Europe is the largest cocoa-processing region • Local markets dictate taxes and currency fluctuations • Major Producers • South America • Africa • Asia
What Is Fair Trade? • Above-market prices to growers • No slavery used in production of cocoa • Sustainable practices • Benefits to trading partners’ communities
How Big Is Cocoa Fair Trade? • Americans spend $13 billion a year on cocoa products • More than 42,000 fair-trade cocoa farmers • Fair-trade certified chocolate available from 10 origins
What Growers Lack • Education for children • Health care • Clean drinking water • Electricity • Teachers • Reliable transportation
The cocoa growing cycle is laborious • Seeds are picked, dried, and roasted • Seeds are shelled and dealkalized and reduced to produce cocoa liquor • Cocoa liquor is pressed to produce cocoa butter • Cocoa butter is mixed with sweeteners and emulsifying agents
Farmers isolated from the market • Cocoa-growing farmers often don’t have contact with the market • Cocoa prices are volatile • Buyers may misrepresent current world prices • May use child labor to reduce costs
Ensuring Quality • Cocoa importers work with fair-trade cooperatives • Beans are tracked back to their origins • Quality control of fermentation levels
Fair Trade and Chocolate Promoting a Fair and Sustainable Industry