Archive for the ‘Chocolate’ Category

Cadbury Expands Fairtrade Commitment

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Cadburys Dairy Milk Chocolate Bars (Fair Trade)

Cadburys Dairy Milk Chocolate Bars (Fair Trade)

According to Tim Newman’s blog entry at the International Labor Rights Forum, Cadbury has announced that it expand its sourcing of fairtrade cocoa beans. By 2010, all Dairy Milk bars sold in Canada, New Zealand and Australia will be fairtrade certified. That’s great news and a further sign of Cadbury’s commitment to improve the lives of cocoa farmers. I only wish that U.S. chocolate corporations would pledge the same instead of dodging the question.

This decision comes on the heals of its decision to discontinue the use of vegetable oil as a substitute for cocoa butter in Australia and New Zealand. Using cocoa butter not only makes the chocolate taste better, it also increased the amount of cocoa bought to make a bar. Cadbury is obviously on the right track. Maybe the current corporate leadership has discovered some of the company’s Quaker heritage.

Kuapa Kokoo Holds 15th AGM

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Kuapa Kokoo AGM

Kuapa Kokoo, Ghana

My favorite cocoa cooperative, the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union in Ghana, just held its 15th annual general meeting. The AGM is the highest decision making body of the cooperative and many policies for the next year are set during the proceedings.

(more…)

Chocolate Consumption Continues Decline

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

The recession is still taking its toll on chocolate consumption. Second quarter reports from around the world indicate that cocoa grindings, a key indicator of chocolate production, continue to decline.

(more…)

What’ll They Come Up With Next?

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Barry Callebaut, the largest chocolate maker in the world, has announced the development of the “Volcano” chocolate bar. Supposedly, this bar is low in calories and does not melt at temperatures below 131º Fahrenheit (or 55º Celsius). Ordinary chocolate starts melting around 90º Fahrenheit.

(more…)

It’s (Social) Capitalism … Stupid

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

An item in AlterNet caught my eye. Ari LeVaux shows how the new corporate parent of Silk Soy Milk has basically dropped American Soy Bean farmers as suppliers and now purchases most of its soybeans in China. The ultimatum to American farmers was: meet the Chinese price or else. This represents a stark reversal of the commitment to American farmers made by Silk in the pre take-over days.

(more…)