CUISINE
A Selfless Indulgence
By Roxanne Browning
Concious decisions when choosing our favorite Chocolate bar has an impact on the World
I
t is so hard to imagine for some, how our spending habits affect others in the world on a typical shopping day. If you buy organic or fresh produce at a local farm stand or belong to a CSA to support your local economy, you understand economics 101. But not all your needs are met by your local farms or if you are fortunate to have any in your area. Simply put, Fair Trade or Direct Trade is the global answer to your local farmstand. However, it’s much more than that. Cocoa Before Harvest The Certified Fair Trade label on chocolate and other products, such as coffee, tea, sugar,
vanilla, and even flowers, guarantees consumers that the farmers who grew the crops are; 1) paid a fair price for their harvest; 2) members of democratically organized cooperatives; 3) have access to affordable credit. The Fair Trade price allows farmers to cover their costs of production as well as afford a decent standard of living for their families, send their children to school and invest in the quality of their farms. The Fair Trade label also guarantees environmentally friendly foods that are 85% certified organic and have the highest quality in flavor and nutritional value. We must note that organic certification is an expense to small farmers. A lot of traditionally farmed cacao is produced ‘organically’ by default since farmers are not able to afford pesticides. Nor can they afford the expense of certification to meet Western organic standards. Direct Trade Most chocolate makers have a direct business relationship with the farmers. Partner – growers make as much as four times more than Fair Trade. Cooperatives and chocolate makers work to-
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