Halloween is this Sunday, and like me, you probably have a stash of candy ready for trick-or-treaters and also (let’s be real) yourself.
This holiday always brings a spate of posts from the craft chocolate world about equitable mini chocolate bars to hand out on Halloween. And while that’s ideal, many of us will be turning to industrial chocolate like M&Ms and Reese’s for a variety of reasons. I’ve long struggled with how to handle this, because of the ethical implications of supporting the industrial supply chain.
But if you’re like most Americans and ARE handing out mainstream candy, what else can you do to support cocoa farmers and change within the cocoa and chocolate industry? Here are some ideas.
1. Read an article about the cocoa supply chain.
I recommend these:
Why That Bar of Chocolate Is Worth $10
The Chocolate Companies Working to Uproot Unfair Labor Practices
Cocoa (full book)
2. Buy your next chocolate supply made with transparently traded cocoa.
This is sometimes hard to discern, since there’s not a sticker like fair trade to look for. Within the bean-to-bar industry, Uncommon Cacao and Meridian Cacao are two trusted sources: Their websites list their farmer and chocolate maker partners.
3. Buy your next chocolate stash from a company based in a cocoa-growing region.
When cocoa farmers sell their beans, they retain about 3-6 percent of the overall profit of the chocolate bar sale. According to a study by the Alliance of Rural Communities in Trinidad and Tobago, when they keep their beans and make chocolate out of them, they retain 97 percent of the profit.
Support small companies like ARC and Cuna de Piedra as well as easily found brands like Beyond Good and Divine (they’re most likely at your local grocery store!).
4. Support a cocoa-focused nonprofit or organization.
There are so many nonprofits doing worthy work across the world, and they provide support, education, and guidance in many ways to cocoa farmers. Most cocoa farmers rely on the industrial chocolate industry for their livelihood, so boycotting may not always be the best option. Donating or volunteering is a positive way to support them. I recommend the Cross-Atlantic Chocolate Collective and the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute.
5. Attend a chocolate tasting.
This might seem random, but the more we understand the labor involved in growing and producing cocoa and making chocolate, the more we will appreciate it and the people who make it possible. Chocolate tastings usually focus on the flavors of fine chocolate as well as where cocoa comes from, how chocolate is made, and the history behind our favorite food.
6. Talk to a cocoa farmer.
If you’re in the industry, this could be as simple as attending the next FCIA meeting or joining the FCCI. If you’re a consumer, social media is your friend. We can connect to people instantaneously, either by following them or even DM’ing them. I recommend following Emfed Farms, Baiani Chocolates, and Zorzal Cacao.