|
A Heartfelt Valentine's Day |
By Ashley Symons, Marketing Writer
 Valentine's Day: Lovers. Hearts. Chocolates ... Child slave labor? While it might not be an obvious association, child slave labor is a reality in the mainstream chocolate industry.
Ivory Coast in West Africa produces 40% of the world's cocoa supply and its beans are mixed into almost every brand of mass-produced chocolate. Further, a handful of western corporations control approximately 85% of Ivorian cocoa exports. (Click here to learn more about slave labor in the chocolate industry.)
But there are alternatives. Equal Exchange's line of fairly traded chocolate products allows you to support a different chocolate model – one that doesn't rely on slave labor. Instead, we work with small-scale farmers who are members of co-ops. As co-op members, they own and run the farms themselves, and rely on a fair price for their cacao beans to strengthen their communities.
And Valentine's Day – the biggest chocolate day of the year – is a perfect opportunity to support them. Equal Exchange doesn't have heart-shaped boxes of chocolate (yet!), but we do have exceptionally good chocolate that contributes to a fairer world. Try one of these ideas – or make your own creation:
These make great gifts for Valentine's Day – or any day. Look for them at your local food co-op, natural foods store, grocery store, or on our retail web store.
|
Our Co-op 
