Fair Trade Chocolate
I grew up 45 minutes from Hershey, Pennsylvania and the land of chocolate bars. Every summer, I'd visit Hershey Park and year-round I'd indulge in assorted types of Hershey's candy. No surprise, they are the largest US manufacturer of chocolate and candy, but Hershey has been criticized for sourcing cocoa from plantations that employ slave labor and trafficked child labor. Read more.
I'd rather support a company that uses healthy ingredients, takes care of the environment when growing cacao, and ensures its workers have safe working conditions and receive a fair wage. Unfortunately, the big chocolate companies don't work this way.
So when purchasing chocolate for your Love this year, consider
Endangered Species Chocolate. They donate 10% of net profits to charitable organizations supporting species and habitat conservation efforts. In addition, they empower communities in cacao growing regions. Employees are encouraged to commit a portion of their paid time to volunteerism and in-kind donations of chocolate are given to a variety of non-profit groups who positively support species, habitat and humanity. They use all-natural and organic ingredients, leaving out those evil artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. All of their chocolate is shade-grown, which supports lush forests and the species that thrive there to promote biodiversity. Finally, the cacao is grown on farm co-ops that foster responsible labor practices, community enrichment and sustainable farming.
