Sweet tooth truth By Trystan L. Bass Posted Fri Feb 1, 2008 1:30pm PST
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Chocolate is rumored to be an aphrodisiac. Of course it tastes good too. But
behind the dark, delicious morsels lay some unfortunate environmental truths.
If you want to give your sweetheart a Valentine's Day treat that's sweet to
the planet, here's some background info and recommended sources.
First, you should know that 70% of the cacao beans used to make chocolate are
grown in Africa, mostly in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Some cacao is grown in
South America, the Caribbean, and Indonesia as well. In all of these places,
child labor is a big problem.
In 2002, the International Labour Organization released a series of studies
about cacao farming in Côte dIvoire, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. This group
found that 284,000 children were working on these farms, frequently in unsafe
conditions.
Children were handling toxic pesticides, wielding machetes, and working long
hours. In Côte dIvoire, a third of kids ages 6 to 17 who lived in
cocoa-producing households had never attended school.
Plus, these operations are damaging rainforests. According to the World Watch
Institute, cocoa farming has destroyed 13% of the original forest in Côte
d'Ivoire. Global Exchange (PDF) notes that deforestation has reduced habitat
for birds. And overuse of pesticides can backfire and create more virulent
pests.
The chocolate industry has taken steps recently to address child labor and
environmentally harmful farming practices.
The World Cocoa Foundation created programs with farmers to encourage more
sustainable farming and safer working conditions. They partnered with various
non-governmental agencies, as well as TransFair USA and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. But the industry still has a long way to go.
If you want chocolate that's guaranteed eco-friendly, your best bet is to
look for a fair-trade certification. This means a neutral, international system
has certified that the farmers received a reasonable minimum price for their
goods. Fair-trade also prohibits child labor and promotes sustainable farming
practices that are similar to organic farming.
The inspection and certification process does cost money for a business, so
this can increase the price for the consumer, in addition to the higher living
wage the farmer receives. But you're getting a product that's been raised under
better standards -- as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
TransFair USA certifies cocoa and lists quite a few retail chocolatiers. It's
also worth looking for USDA organic certified chocolates; some manufacturers
may not get both certifications due to the cost or beauracracy.
Theo Chocolate, Sweet Earth Organic Chocolate, Equal Exchange, and Shaman
Chocolates are all organic and fair-trade certified.
I especially like Divine Chocolate. It's well named because the taste is
divine, and it's fair-trade.
For more fair-trade chocolates, take a look at Nirvana Belgian Chocolates,
San Francisco Chocolate Factory, and Alter Eco.
For organic chocolate, visit Lillie Belle Farms and Sjaak's Organic
Chocolates.
Another personal favorite is Dagoba Organic Chocolate (I love the Latte Mocha
bar!). These sweets are certified organic and sustainably grown, plus all of
the dark chocolates are vegan.
If your loved one loves animals too, maybe an Endangered Species chocolate
bar would be a great gift. These yummy bars are made of ethically traded,
shade-grown chocolate, and 10% of profits go to different conservancy
organizations.
While all of the ones mentioned so far are available online (order early for
delivery by 2/14), some types are available in stores too. Newman's Own
Organics has several flavors of chocolate bars and peanut butter cups sold in
natural food stores and markets like Whole Foods.
The luxury UK brand Green and Black's Organic chocolate is highly acclaimed
for its dark chocolates. Use the store locator on the website, and you may find
this sweet delight at a Whole Foods or Target store in your neighborhood.
- fostering sustainable community through collaborative initiatives in
hospitality, education and the arts, in the 150 year-old democratic spirit of
the Danish Folk School
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