Fair Trade Chocolate

Why Fair Trade Coffee?

Whenever possible you should look for coffee beans that are fair trade. The fair trade coffee movement has been seeing steady growth in the last decade. Many savvy consumers are demanding fair trade options which is forcing large coffee retailers to take notice. Since the onset of the global financial crisis in late 2008, coffee prices have plunged but the prices most people pay in the United States has not changed. The large coffee suppliers and retailers have simply pocketed the difference.

Fair Trade means a fair partnership between the coffee farmers and the large companies that market the products in lucrative North American and European markets. The system works to guarantee that low-income farmers in coffee growing countries earn a livable wage for their daily labor.

To be certified as fair trade, these conditions must be met:

-A fair wage is paid to the coffee grower, which covers not only the cost of production but also enables them to have money left over to live well.
-Employees must be offered opportunities for advancement
-Farmers must engage in environmentally sustainable practices
-Coffee plantations must provide healthy and safe working conditions.
-Children and women are protected from exploitation.
-The relationship between the coffee growers and the companies that purchase their coffee must be fair, balanced and financially transparent so it can be properly monitored.

Fair trade products can be identified by a "Fair Trade Certified" label or the seal of approval from the Fair Trade Federation. The Fair Trade Federation is an association of businesses that follow fair trade principles and their logo ensures that the coffee company is committed to the highest fair trade standards. For a product to carry a Fair Trade label it must be inspected and certified by Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International. This group currently operates in over 70 countries has over 800 producer organizations working in its vast Fair Trade coffee network.

In addition to Fair Trade coffee, other agricultural products are also certified by the Fair Trade Federation, including: bananas, tea, sugar, chocolate, honey, wine, flowers and cocoa. In 2008, Fair Trade certified sales amounted to slightly more than US $1 billion worldwide, a 22% increase from year-to-year. This still remains a fraction of the estimated US $70-80 billion global coffee industry. However, the impact in the lives of farmers is huge, with Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International estimating that over 7.5 million coffee producers and their families are benefiting from fair trade programs, technical assistance and community development projects.

When you buy a $1 or $2 cup of coffee at a coffee shop, how much do you think ends up in a grower's pocket? Not nearly as much as you'd think. In fact, the amount of coffee required for a medium-sized cup probably only cost the coffee shop about $0.06. The grower of the coffee receives less than 1% of the price of that coffee - which amounts to about $0.006. So, next time you have a cup of coffee that isn't fair trade, think of that. But by choosing companies that sell Fair Trade coffee products you can ensure a fair price is being paid to the growers.

Dagoba Organic Chocolate Fair Trade Certified 73% Cacao Premium Chocolate Drops List Price: $11.99 Sale Price: $7.99 You save: $4.00 (33%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Dagoba Organic Chocolate Fair Trade Certified 73% Cacao Premium Chocolate Drops. Your culinary experience will be take to a different level with the pure chocolate perfection of Dagoba Chocolates. These premium organic baking drops are made of varietal forest grown cacao from the Caribbean and the Americas. The 73% cacao content chocolate offers upfront notes of cacao, overtones of complex fruit and soft notes of spice. Dagoba Chocodrops are perfect for cookies, cakes, dipping fruit, glazing tortes or snacking. 8 ounce bag Features Dagoba Organic Fair Trade Certified Baking Chocolate Drops 73% Cacao Chocodrops 8 Ounce bag

Theo Classic Organic (70% Cacao) Dark Chocolate, 3-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12) List Price: $47.88 Sale Price: $33.23 You save: $14.65 (31%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description A rich 70% dark chocolate. Organic, fair trade chocolate made with the highest integrity, beautifully simple packaging, and outstanding taste. Vegan and soy free. Features Pack of twelve, 3-ounce per unit(a total of 36 ounces) Delicious organic, fair trade, seductively smooth and rich 70% dark chocolate Soy free; vegan

Endangered Species Black Panther, Extreme Dark Chocolate (88%), 3-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12) List Price: $33.48 Sale Price: $25.67 You save: $7.81 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Endangered Species Chocolate All-Natural Panther Bar - Extreme Dark Chocolate (88% Cocoa Content) This 3oz. dark chocolate bar is made with all-natural, shade-grown, ethically traded, single-origin extreme dark chocolate. At 88% cocoa content, it is one o Features All-natural gourmet chocolate Shade-grown ethically-traded cocoa beans from small family-owned farms Supports endangered animals habitat and humanity Each bar contains educational information about the endangered animal on the wrapper

Dagoba Organic Chocolate Fair Trade Certified Cacao Powder 8 Ounce List Price: $11.99 Sale Price: $8.99 You save: $3.00 (25%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Dagoba Organic Chocolate Fair Trade Certified Cacao Powder 8 ounce. Dagoba Cacao Powder is made from the finest organic cacao beans from the Americas and the Caribbean. Dagoba sources from small scale organic farmers to support sustainability, biodiversity and the preservation of rare and vanishing varietals. This cacao powder is a luxurious addition to truffles, tortes, chocolate dipped fruits, sprinkling on coffee drinks or your favorite recipe. Features Dagoba Organic Chocolate Fair Trade Certified Cacao Powder Dagoba Cacao Powder is made from the finest organic cacao beans Dagoba sources from small scale organic farmers to support sustainability, biodiversity Dagoba uses only the finest organic and non-GMO ingredients This cacao powder is a luxurious addition to truffles, tortes, chocolate dipped fruits

Omanhene Dark Chocolate Gift Box, 80% Cocoa Content Recipe, 12.7-Ounce Box List Price: $22.00 Sale Price: $18.46 You save: $3.54 (16%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description All natural dark chocolate (80% cocoa content) gift box contains 18 ingots Features Beyond Fair Trade

Natural Nectar Dark ChocoDream Belgian Cocoa Spread with Fair Trade Ingredients, 12.3 Ounce Glass Jars (Pack of 3) List Price: $23.97 Sale Price: $18.28 You save: $5.69 (24%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Natural Nectar supports the Fair Trade ideals of fair price, environmental protection and safe working conditions through our purchase of cocoa and cane sugar from Fair Trade certified cooperatives around the world. Dark ChocoDream with Fair Trade Ingred Features Pack of three jars, 12.3 ounces each (total of 36.9 ounces) Natural Belgian cocao spread With fair trade ingredients

Omanhene Dark Milk Chocolate Gift Box, 48% Cocoa Content Recipe, 12.7-Ounce Box List Price: $22.00 Sale Price: $18.46 You save: $3.54 (16%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description All natural dark milk chocolate (48% cocoa content) gift box contains 18 ingots Features Beyond Fair Trade

Endangered Species Otter, Smooth Milk Chocolate (48%), 10-Count Individually Wrapped Pieces (Pack of 6) List Price: $27.00 Sale Price: $18.90 You save: $8.10 (30%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Endangered Species Chocolate All-Natural Sea Otter 3.5oz Pouch - Smooth Milk Chocolate (48% Cocoa Content) Individually-wrapped all-natural smooth milk chocolate squares are the perfect size to satisfy your chocolate cravings while offering many health b Features Pack of six, 10-count each 10 individually wrapped pieces in each pack All natural smooth milk chocolate

Endangered Species Wolf, Dark Chocolate (72%) with Cranberries & Almonds, 3-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12) List Price: $33.48 Sale Price: $25.97 You save: $7.51 (22%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Endangered Species Chocolate All-Natural Wolf Bar - Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds (72% cocoa content) This 3oz. dark chocolate bar is made with all-natural, shade-grown, ethically traded, single-origin cocoa. Combined with cranberries and a Features All-natural gourmet chocolate Shade-grown ethically-traded cocoa beans from small family-owned farms Supports endangered animals habitat and humanity Each bar contains educational information about the endangered animal on the wrapper

Frontier Cocoa Powder, Dutch-process Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, 16-Ounce Bag Sale Price: $12.75   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description The tropical cacoa tree produces this food of the gods. Our fine cocoa is Dutch processed, rich in flavor and color. Features Pack contains one 16-ounce bag Certified organic Fair trade certified Pack with 16-ounce bag

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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 17th, 2011 at 4:37 am and is filed under organic snacks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.Both comments and pings are currently closed.