Small Farmers. Big Change.

At this morning’s staff meeting, we were told that Bethany from Ten Thousand Villages in Goshen, Indiana included the following poem with her weekly order:

Chocolate, O, chocolate

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways…

In fondue, flourless chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, in espresso drinks, beside espresso drinks, melted in a lovely mole, infused with mint, orange, packed with almonds, dark, milk, big pieces, little pieces, melty pieces, and many, many more.

All except “white chocolate”, which of course isn’t chocolate at all. Ooo – and chocolate with crystallized ginger – that’s a new favorite. And last, but not least, chocolate ice cream, or, as my sister calls it, “ice cream” – because what’s the point, really, she says, if there’s no chocolate in it?

Thanks Bethany for adding this spark to our staff meeting… we couldn’t agree with you more!

And for those of you who don’t know Ten Thousand Villages, what are you waiting for?! They’ve been leaders in the Fair Trade movement since the close of World War II and allies of Equal Exchange since our founding. Last year, was the 15^th anniversary since they began purchasing our coffee… I think the first coffee they bought was Café Salvador.  Lilla Woodham celebrated the occasion by accompanying them on one of their educational delegations to visit Las Colinas, one of our farmer partner co-operatives in El Salvador.

Below is a photo of Bethany, Assistant Manager and Chocolate Diva (on the right) and her colleague Susan, Education Coordinator.

(photo courtesy of Elizabeth, TTV Goshen)

Well… Kelsie Evans, Chocolate Products Coordinator had this to say in response:

Made with the highest quality organic ingredients from Latin America and produced with Swiss expertise, it’s no surprise Equal Exchange chocolate tastes so good. Cacao from small-scale farmer co-operatives in the Dominican Republic, Peru and Panama, sugar from Paraguay and Costa Rica, and Vanilla from Madagascar, all combine together for chocolate free of chemical additives, chocolate that is delicious in all the ways Bethany rhapsodizes about. But just as important as (amazing) taste, are the people behind the bar.  On the ground, these farmers invest in environmentally sustainable farming methods, as well as social development projects that enrich and empower their community.  Please visit our website to read more about our farmer partners, where you can read several stories and trip reports from recent visits to the Dominican Republic and the CONACADO cacao co-operative, with whom we are proud to work in creating our chocolates.