Chocolate has been an integral part of the human culinary experienced for hundreds, if not thousands of years.The consumer demand for chocolate is stronger than ever, especially now distributed and globalized supply chains are able to deliver chocolate to parts of the world that have traditionally been unable to access luxury food items in the past. The extreme surge in chocolate production, however, is beginning to have a net negative effect on the ecosystem as a whole. Consumer reports show that cocoa bean production is down due to a multitude of environmental factors, driving cocoa prices up as a result. The pressure is on for major chocolate companies to come together and help cocoa farmers boost their dwindling crop yields.
The top producers of the cocoa farms in Africa, South America are in the midst of massive operational changes in the way they farm, as the yearly rainfall in cocoa producing regions has dramatically fallen in the past few years. Crop yields are lower every year due to a lack in soil fertility. The decline of cocoa farmers directly correlates to a decrease in the production of precursors to chocolate manufacture. Another major factor contributing to the lowered production of cocoa crops is societal changes in the younger generations of cocoa farming families, who instead of pursuing cocoa farming family businesses, leave to seek a perceived better life in cities, lessening the ability of their families to continue to grow cocoa and contribute to the chocolate industry.
The shortage of cocoa product has become so widespread that recently 10 of the largest chocolate producers and cocoa processors in the world agreed in 2014 to begin sharing with each other a wide swathe of private data on farming practices and crop yields. The move was unprecedented but has led to increased efficiency in cocoa production and an overall minimization of the negative effects of cocoa farming on the environment. One of the major organisations advocating for a sustainable and eco friendly method of cocoa and chocolate production is Theo Chocolate, an environmentally conscious and organic chocolate product manufacturer.
In this article we will see what the Theo Chocolate company is doing to help in their part to sustain the high demands for cocoa and help build up the decline of cocoa production while working to keep bringing high quality chocolate products. Theo Chocolate claims that they understand the injustice in the way that both the cocoa workers and the cocoa farms are being exploited are lobbying to make a difference. Theo Chocolate are committed to providing organic cocoa beans in the U.S. and promote Fair Trade practices for the people farming those beans. Theo Chocolate focuses on the goal of making high quality organic chocolate available at an accessible price to everybody.
What is Theo Chocolate?
From the cacao farmer in the Congo, to the truck driver in Seattle, to the chocolate lover in Philadelphia, Theo Chocolate understands that there is a thread that runs through us all, and this privately owned fair trade company knows how to bring it all together. The Founder of the Theo Chocolate, Joe Whinney, first pioneered the supply of organic cocoa beans into the United States in 1994. By traveling and working in Africa and Central America, Joe fell in love with the cocoa producing regions and the people farming there. Recognizing an injustice in the way that farmers were being exploited and wanting to do something to make a difference, Joe worked tirelessly to champion organic cocoa beans in the U.S. and promote Fair Trade practices for the people farming those beans.
In March of 2006, Joe's dream came when Theo chocolate launched their first organic chocolate, manufactured in the United States for fair trade organic cocoa beans, farmed with sustainable methods. Theo Chocolate ensure that their chocolate products come from only the purest ingredients grown in the most sustainable ways possible. Adhering to a production philosophy that dictates that everything they make and sell meets the highest standards for organic, Theo Chocolate represent their brand with the slogan “Fair Trade and Fair for Life”.
For Theo Chocolate, chocolate is not just a product- it’s a journey from bean to bar starting at the places where they’re grown or their origin. Theo Chocolate is passionate about chocolate and wants to help change the world through promoting justice and fair trade for all cocoa farmers around the world.. Their motto, “Rooted in Passion, Grounded in Beliefs” is put into practice every day.
Theo Chocolate Products
Theo Chocolate controls every aspect of their manufacturing process in order to guarantee every ingredient, every manufacturing process and every distribution method is as special as the beans themselves. Theo Chocolate strives to be the most progressive chocolate maker in the country, and as the first fair trade certified chocolate maker in North America provide the largest network of fair trade distributors of chocolate products in the world.
Constructing and operating first organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the country, Theo Chocolate maintain a founding principle that the finest artisan chocolate in the world can and should be produced in an entirely ethical, sustainable fashion. All of their ingredients are carefully screened and 3rd party verified to ensure they meet the standards for social and environmental responsibility. The Chocolate are committed to using only the finest quality ingredients to deliver the best possible end product.
Theo Chocolate work closely with their farmer groups and grower cooperatives throughout the world to help their businesses grow and succeed. In the field, they provide technical assistance and share their knowledge of great chocolate making and the cocoa industry. Theo beans come from Peru and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Always in search for new cocoa partners that share the same commitments to quality, environmental sustainability, and ethical business practices, Theo Chocolates produce everything from chocolate bars to peanut butter cups, confections, caramels, and merchandise.
Theo Chocolate Pricing & Availability
Theo Chocolate can be purchased from their website to be shipped anywhere in the US. Theo Chocolate product prices ranging from just $2.99 USD for a sample bar and up. If you’re looking for a sustainable, eco friendly and fair trade alternative to the exploitative cocoa industry, Theo Chocolate is the best and most morally sound choice- and it tastes great too.
