HOW TO: Buy Fair Trade Chocolate
February 7, 2012 by Jessi Stafford
Filed under Lifestyle, Recent Posts
Nicobella uses Theo Chocolate™ which is fair trade and organic
It’s that time of year again. Chocolate season, a.k.a the month which hosts Valentine’s Day. Somewhere before February 14th, starting roughly around January 2nd, retailers start gearing up for the holiday where chocolate says “I Love You,” and the more heart-shaped the box, the better.
But what if you didn’t have to settle for the generic candies inside pink and read sheaths? What if your chocolate could be sourced and accounted for? Fair trade chocolate says “I Love You…more.”
According to FairTradeUSA.org:
Cocoa farmers are often forced to sell their harvest to middlemen who rig scales or misrepresent prices, and media reports of child slavery show the stark contrast between the delicious treat and the difficult conditions of the people who produce it. Fair trade certification ensures that farmers receive a fair price, allows farmers to invest in techniques that bring out the flavors of the region, and strictly prohibits slave and child labor.
FTC symbol
However, a lot more goes into shopping for fair trade other than simply looking for the logo. Care2.com posits some other considerations when looking for your fair trade chocolate. First, the task of policing where certain items come from is a difficult one, and absolute oversight is hard to implement. “Because of the difficulty in policing farming practices, items marked as ‘fair trade’ may still contain cocoa that was produced using slave and child labor or under unsafe working conditions with inadequate or no pay,” states Care2.
The organization also says small farmers may be unable to afford the costs of becoming Fair Trade certified. Furthermore, the very definition of “fair trade” is not universally agreed upon, much like the problems animal activists face when deciding what is “free range.” Additionally, similar to agribusiness regulations, there are several fair trade organizations and each is allowed to certify products with their own levels of oversight and requirements.
So, where does one turn? Just because a product is marked “fair trade,” does not guarantee that all standards of wages and humane treatment are met. Conversely, a company that doesn’t have the seal of approval may not be using child labor or unsafe conditions at all.
Some general consensus is that cocoa produced along the Ivory Coast is the first place to avoid. Organic chocolate grown in Central and South America, overall, is not faced with the issue of slavery, and since organic chocolate is limited, many farmers receive a fair price. Additionally, some farms in West Africa are slave and child labor free.
For the most all-inclusive list fair trade chocolate-advocates can muster, take a look at FoodIsPower.org’s chocolate list. Don’t see your favorite fair trade chocolate’s name? Make sure you are browsing by what brand of cocoa they are using, not necessarily the name of the retailer.
Also, take a look at FairTradeUSA.org, a leading third-party certifier in the United States. Now, go enjoy your Valentine’s Day!
Attention Fair Trade Fans and/or Chocolate Lovers: stayed tuned for an interview with Nicobella Chocolates and a giveaway in our next posts!
Say ‘I love You’ Without Severing Your Love for the Environment
February 3, 2011 by Katie
Filed under Recent Posts
This guide is for those of you who believe Valentine’s Day is about more than a card or a fancy dinner. Too often Valentine’s Day results in expensive nights out and piles of paper cards in landfills. This year, follow some of these suggestions for a romantic, eco-friendly Valentine’s Day.
7:30 AM – Surprise your significant other with breakfast in bed. Forget the bacon and eggs – which support animal agriculture and its harmful environmental effects – instead, opt for a delicious tofu scramble. Try out this tofu scramble recipe from Oprah.com. The recipe involves sauteing fresh bell peppers, onions and mushrooms in heart-healthy olive oil with nutritional yeast, garlic, ginger, chili powder, tamari, pepper and chives. Complete the saute with fresh tofu and tomato chunks, and then add the finishing touches: two slices of organic, whole wheat toast and freshly squeezed organic orange juice.
10:00 AM – As you pander around on Facebook and Twitter at work, take a few minutes to send all of your friends a Valentine’s Day e-card. Everyone needs a little love on Valentine’s Day, and the holiday can cause environmental harm due to the high volume of paper cards and envelopes being used. Greeting card companies estimate that one billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year. This is enough to stretch around the world five times! In addition, many e-card websites are free.
2:30 PM – Who doesn’t love receiving surprise presents at work from your significant other? Arrange for a Truly Wize Kisses & Hugs Organic Cookie Gift Box or a Truly Wize Valentine Sugar Cookie Gift Box to be sent to the love of your life on Valentine’s Day afternoon. It’s a great way to get through the afternoon slump! Order these in advance to your own home, and then deliver them yourself or have a friend drop them off for you on Valentine’s Day.
6:00 PM – Avoid crowded restaurants, waiting for a table and non-organic, unhealthy food by staying in and preparing your own Valentine’s Day dinner. Create the perfect setting with soy-based candles (to prevent indoor air pollutants) and use some to decorate the table, or go all out by scattering smaller votive candles around the dining area. Finish off the setting with one fair trade rose laid across the center of the table and a Fire & Light Recycled Glass Heart placed at the table setting. Sit back, and enjoy a quiet evening with that someone who holds a special place in your heart.
More Gift Ideas:
Bottled Up Designs Ruby Rectangle Pendant & Earrings
Bottled Up Designs Pink Rectangle Pendant & Earrings
The Green Glass Company Topaz Table Vase
Yala Bamboo Dreams Haley Pajama Set
Fire & Light Recycled Glass Splash Bowls
BambooDreams Men's Weekender Lounge Pants
Mother Earth… Would You Be Mine?
February 12, 2010 by Emily
Filed under Lifestyle, Recent Posts
Love… whether it’s exciting, fresh, eternal or simply just nonexistent, love deserves a day of recognition. This year, show your love of each other and your love for the earth by mixing red with green. Here are a few ways you can enjoy a relaxing, eco-fabulous Valentine’s Day:
If you’re going to love your honey like you love the planet, show it with flowers, make sure they are organic. Flowers grown organically are best for the environment because of the reduced toxic chemical usage, which creates a safer environ
ment for the farmers and for our earth. Not to mention organic farms promote long term sustainability on farm lands which support the health of our planet. Be picky about where you buy your flowers because many flowers found at the supermarkets and other floral departments come from other countries. By doing this they are generating a larger carbon footprint since they have to import them by plane using large amounts of fuel and energy. Make sure to invest in socially responsible flower companies by buying organic or fair trade flowers. Sierra Eco is a fair trade flower company, which vows to change the world… one flower at a time. There are also ways to extend the life of your freshly cut flowers without the use of chemicals, here’s how.
Buy fair trade organic chocolate and pair it with your favorite organic fruits. Play your part in a more equitable trading partnership by purchase fair trade chocolate from companies like Divine. Look for chocolate that has a certification logo for Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, or some other indication on their packaging that assures the item to be produced both sustainably and ethically. Chocolate itself is considered and aphrodisiac and causes your brain to release serotonin which makes you feel like your falling in love, which means it’s clearly needed for Valentine’s day.
Finally, send love letters…online of course! Sending the ones you love e-greetings is a great way to reduce the need for paper consumption but still let people know that you are thinking about them. We like Evite or Punchbowl because of the variety of cool designs. Reducing the amount of cards you send drastically reduces your carbon footprint. This year, we challenge you to think outside the card stock and be considerate as to how your card sending impacts the environment as well as other traditional Valentine’s Day practices. This is the only earth we have, so let’s love it as much as we can. Happy Valentine’s Day 
Organic Bug February Featured Artist: Chef Caren Weaver of Truly Wize Organic Bakery
February 9, 2010 by Amy
Filed under Organic Bug Spotlight, Recent Posts
Each month, it is my pleasure to spotlight an Organic Bug artist who exemplifies our commitment to bringing healthier and more sustainable options to the marketplace. Peggy and I felt like February would be the perfect month to spotlight Chef Caren Weaver of Truly Wize Organic Bakery.
using 100% premium organic ingredients in her exquisite creations handbaked in her Pennsylvania kitchen. Premium organic ingredients offer superior quality, taste, nutrition and freshness, while sustainable agriculture promotes the healthy cultivation of soil, crop rotation and irrigation plus it is free of harmful pesticides, chemical fertilizers, steroids and hormones. It’s a win-win situation! On top of all that, Truly Wize Organic Bakery partners with local organic farmers as much as possible in order to keep things truly fresh and truly eco-wise and uses sustainable packaging for her baked goods.
