|
Posted by Hunny Bunny
on February 13, 2010 8:05 PM
|
Filed Under: Food, Gifts, Shopping |
Valentines day is coming up quickly. For many of us that means spending time with our sweetheart, having a romantic dinner.....and consuming copious amounts of chocolate! It is no wonder that chocolate is such a popular gift to give our loved ones. It tastes fantastic, most people love it, it is decadent, and dark chocolate even contains healthy antioxidents. Unfortunately much of the chocolate available on the market has some dirty little secrets.
1. Cocoa plants are very suseptable to pests and diseases, and because of that are one of the most heavily sprayed crops around.
2. Cocoa producers are paid very poorly for their product. Because of this many of them live in poverty. Child labor is also common because of this.
3. In order to produce more yield, new varieties that can be grown in full sun have been introduced. Instead of the natural cocoa plants that grow in the shade of the forest, these increase the destruction of the forest.
So what can be done to ensure that the chocolate you buy does not contribute to these problems? There are many certifications that you can look for when buying chocolate, and nowadays many brands that meet these certifications are appearing in local grocery stores. So, what exactly should be on your chocolate wrapper?
1. Fair Trade - Fair trade aims to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their product and good labor conditions to work in. Under fair trade these farmers are able to live and support their families properly.
2. Certified Organic - There are many different organizations that certify organic products. Certified organic guarantees that the crops are not sprayed with dangerous chemicals.
3. Rainforest Alliance - The rainforest alliance covers many areas that are important in cocoa farming. They work with farmers to ensure sustainability by promoting the original shade grown cocoa plants. Because these are grown in the shelter of the forests they are much more environmentally friendly and help promote wildlife conservation. They also work with farmers to ensure that they are making at least the country minimum wage, and provide training on how to get the best yields from their crops.
Luckily for us chocolate lovers, there are many fantastic brands of “ethical chocolate”
Green & Blacks - Green & Blacks makes a variety of chocolate products including chocolate bars, ice cream, baking chocolate and hot chocolate mix. I can say from experience that the quality and taste of their chocolate is fantastic. With it’s popularity gaining it is appearing not only in specialty stores but also in local supermarkets and drug stores as well.
Lake Champlain Chocolates - Lake Champlain makes a variety of certified organic, fair trade chocolate products including bars, assortments, gift baskets and hot chocolate.
» Organic Chocolate on Ecollo