BuzzFlash Reviews
5 Divine Chocolate Snack Bars (Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Bars)
BUZZFLASH REVIEWS
What makes this a Fair Trade item?
Divine Chocolate products are manufactured by the Day Chocolate Company in the UK. "The Day Chocolate Company has taken the concept of fair trade a step further. Kuapa Kokoo, the farmers' co-operative [in Ghana] that produces the cocoa for Divine, also owns one third of the shares in the company. The farmers' participation in the running of Day is unique in the fair trade world, and means that producers thousands of miles away now play an active role in decisions about how Divine is produced and sold, as well as sharing in the profits."
And here is a bit of information about the Kuapa Kokoo co-operative: "In order to combat the threat of the farmers losing out during the liberalization of the cocoa market in 1993, a group of cocoa farmers including a visionary farmer representative on the Ghana Cocoa Board, Nana Frimpong Abrebrese, came together to form a co-operative that would collect and sell its own cocoa for the member farmers' own benefit. Supported by Twin and SNV, a Dutch NGO, they set up their own company to buy their cocoa and sell it on to the Government Cocoa Buying Board. The cocoa farmers' organization was founded and named 'Kuapa Kokoo' which in the local language, Twi, means 'Good Cocoa Farmers Company.' Their motto is 'Pa Pa Paa' which means 'the best of the best of the best.'"
In October 1998, Twin Trading and Kuapa Kokoo came together, along with The Body Shop, and supported by Christian Aid and Comic Relief, to found The Day Chocolate Company. Twin Trading is a registered charity in the UK, dedicated to spreading the Fair Trade market. Each year, a meeting of the Day Chocolate Company is held in Ghana.
"Divine Chocolate is made with cocoa bought from Kuapa Kokoo at the guaranteed minimum fair trade price of $1600 per ton which protects the farmers from the volatility of the market. The cooperative receives an additional premium of $150 per ton, which is invested in improvements to the farmers' living standards and farming productivity. A percentage of the price of Divine goes towards 'producer support and development', which Kuapa Kokoo spends on farmer education, and helping to maintain the values and vision of the cooperative as it grows."
Well, there you have it. Truly a visionary fair trade relationship and concept.
And the chocolate's damn good, too.
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