Chocolate Dreams: Chocolate That’s Good for People and the Earth

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By Tara Bzdok

Maybe you’ve heard the buzz about fair trade, shade-grown and organic coffee — that purchasing it contributes to a better environment, a safer and more humane workplace and a chance for the farmers to make a real living. But did you know that cocoa, also known as “chocolate,” is grown in a very similar manner and has the same social and environmental impact?

“USDA Organic” on the chocolate bar label means not only that the chocolate has been grown without the use of dangerous pesticides, but also that it has been shade-grown (as opposed to being grown in a field). Shade-grown cocoa and coffee contribute to balanced ecosystems, which are home to hundreds of species of songbirds among countless other animals and insects. Since cocoa may only be grown near the equator, precious rainforests must be cleared in order to use the cheaper field method of growing the beans, depriving wild animals of their homes. Field-grown chocolate and coffee also must be saturated with dangerous pesticides to keep insects away in this unnatural growing environment.

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Rainforest Alliance-certified is another certification you may see on chocolate products. This group helps large farms cut down on pesticide use and practice sustainable growing methods.

The human price of chocolate

Child and slave labor are common practices on chocolate farms in places such as the Ivory Coast of Africa, where 40 percent of the world’s chocolate comes from. In many cases, the farmers are so poor that they must keep their children out of school to work in the chocolate fields. Fairly traded cocoa is guaranteed to come from certified cooperative farms that do not allow child or slave labor. A fair price is paid for the cocoa, and the money enriches the community. Transfair USA certifies various products with the Fair Trade logo in the United States, including cocoa, coffee, tea and fruit.

Mainstream companies such as M&M/Mars and Hershey’s have refused to push for any real change in the farming practices in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Cadbury/Schweppes criticizes the Fair Trade system, stating that it does not help small farms in the Ivory Coast and other areas that are not part of a co-op. They claim that they pay 10 percent more for their chocolate, which comes from Ghana, than companies who purchase from farmers in the Ivory Coast. The company claims this makes a big difference in the quality of life for Ghana farmers and their families.

This increase is negligible in comparison with the price paid for Fair Trade cocoa, however, which is sometimes as much as 10 times the amount paid for non-certified cocoa. Cadbury/Schweppes also touts that they have built over 200 wells for chocolate-producing communities, giving them much-needed access to clean drinking water. Also a nice gesture — but perhaps if the farmers were paid a decent price for their crops, they could build their own wells. This type of action is typical of the major chocolate companies. None of them are doing as much as they could easily afford to do.

What can I do?

A very important step to take is to discontinue buying chocolate that comes from questionable sources. Find out where it comes from or look for a certification seal. The three largest certification systems — USDA Organic, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance — are all working toward similar goals, and you can rest easy knowing that your money is going to help the underprivileged and the environment when purchasing chocolate or other goods with any of these seals.

Although each program’s major focus differs slightly, they all complement one another. For example, Rainforest Alliance is most concerned about the environment, but in turn, the workers’ health is protected when chemical use is limited. Also, Rainforest Alliance deals with big farms, while Fair Trade certifies only products from co-ops. Organic chocolate often comes from small, poor farms that are organic by default — they grow things in the traditional, shade-grown manner because they do not have the resources to do it any other way. The certification helps them sell their cocoa at a higher price. Also, no organic chocolate is produced on the Ivory Coast, so slave labor will not have produced it.

The most readily available certified brands are Equal Exchange, Green & Black’s and Newman’s Own, which may be found in most natural markets throughout the country. I personally recommend Green & Black’s dark chocolate with hazelnuts and currents, Newman’s Own peanut butter cups with dark chocolate and organic peanut butter, or Equal Exchange’s milk chocolate. You may find a variety of fair trade products at Global Exchange as well as information on other ways to help further the cause.

Learn More

Oxfam’s Guide to Fair Trade

Write to the major chocolate companies and tell them to trade more fairly

Hershey Company
100 Crystal A Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
1-800-468-1714

Mars Inc.
6885 Elm St.
McLean, VA 22101
1-800-627-7852

Nestle
Avenue Nestle 55
1800 Vevey, Switzerland
+41 21 924 2111

Cadbury Schweppes
Box 12, Bournville Lane
Bournville, Birmingham 830 2LU, UK
+44 (0) 121 451 4444

© Tara Bzdok

Tara Bzdok has a bachelor’s in English and is going to school to become a registered dietitian. For quick and easy whole food solutions, go to http://www.healthyplanet.wholefoodfarmacy.com. Tara is also an Arbonne Independent Consultant, specializing in pure, cruelty-free, Swiss-formulated skincare and nutrition products.