We have set ourselves the challenge of commissioning the smallest cocoa plantations, which harvest and dry the heart of our products for us in direct and very personal contract production.
Our "Virgin Cacao" is freshly harvested completely natural from the cocoa pods and gently dried in raw food quality. Four small plantations (2 in Peru, one in Sri Lanka and Vietnam) win our Virgin Cacao especially for our CHOCQLATE chocolates and for our other products in a particularly hygienic and gentle process. We can combine natural, unroasted cocoa bean to bar together with roasted fine cocoa beans and coconut blossom sugar in fine vegan organic chocolates and organic bars. In In a complex process, they are handled on the plantation in such a way that they fully meet the hygienic requirements in Europe. This process and the care for the development of aromas in the cocoa pods has a fine, mild and at the same time fruity and aromatic taste and makes the direct cooperation with the cocoa plantation one of the most important factors for the quality of our dark chocolate. Through this process, the taste has no tart or bitter side!
Above all, in this article we want to describe how we at CHOCQLATE, CHOCQBAR and OHYA deal with the organic cultivation of cocoa, the procurement of the ingredients and the production of the chocolate. In the lower part of this post we try to get into the thicket of clarity Signets bring to.
What does fair trade at CHOCQLATE stand for?
The term “fair” or “just” focuses on fair payment for cocoa farmers in the countries of origin. We source the cocoa for our organic chocolate bars South and Central America and the coconut blossom sugar from Indonesia. We buy these ingredients with a surcharge, as we have the cocoa and coconut blossom sugar traded – except for the "Virgin Cacao" cocoa content – only from fairtrade Obtain suppliers. Our main supplier from Switzerland - in our opinion one of the best cocoa importers in Europe – has established its own farmers' cooperatives and guarantees the best conditions on the cocoa plantations. http://pronatec.com/de/naturprodukte.html
We obtain the “Virgin Cacao” directly from a cocoa plantation, whose organizers and background we know personally. Many fair products that one can buy as a manufacturer come from cooperatives, which for their part "collect" cocoa pods or "hand in" the workers there; a mix of cocoa varieties is created. In contrast, the "Virgin Cacao" is a single estate cocoa, i.e. he comes from an area.
Our cooperation partner PERÚ PURO, who organizes the organic cultivation on site in Peru, pays the Farmers better than the usual fair terms. D.he smallholders have been supported by the non-profit association "Frederic – Help for Peru ". This association takes care of social and ecological projects on an ongoing basis Community house for 42 families where meetings and training sessions take place. Here the farmers learn everything about organic, Agroforestry systems and the use of permaculture. This transfer of knowledge is the basis for the necessary, sensitive and far-sighted handling of nature and the containment of soil erosion in the cocoa-growing area in the Chuncho valley primeval forest. The initiative also has a direct advantage for the quality of our organic chocolates. With the preservation of nutrients in the soil and natural enrichment with the help of permaculture, the tree can draw potent nutrients into the pods and thus into the beans. These are then added to our products bean to bar.I.hr can use all products buy here in the shop.
The "virgin" cocoa beans are harvested on our behalf and extra according to our own processing protocol in closed and hygienically safe "greenhouses" together with their natural pulp dried. We pay a far higher price for these untreated beans than in the organic, fair and precious cocoa bean trade common – dalmost twice as much! In addition, this farming community can ship its own harvest for bean to bar products together with our volume to Europe at a much cheaper rate. Because only a full container is economical and environmentally friendly.
Why should you buy fair products? - Sustainable development issue
Purchase prices and ecological social commitment together with the increase in volume due to increasing demand in the fair trade + organic chocolate sector are decisive. We produce with OHYA, CHOCQLATE, CHOCQBAR, the cocoa beans as a snack and the CHOCQLATE sets to make yourself more than 500,000 products a year into the – depending on the recipe – bean to bar the cocoa beans from the single origin cocoa cultivation are integrated to 15-20%; they are stuck in every bar of chocolate and every bar or snack! With this volume, the costs for shipping to Europe have been reduced significantly since 2017. In this way, the PERÚ PURO initiative can export its traded cocoa with us to Europe at the best possible cost. The increased volume results in cost optimization that directly benefits the 42 farming families. This is also important for the price level of our Organic chocolate in retail, because high-priced chocolate is far less in demand in organic retail. ÜAbout this direct trade standard can we do it, chocolate to offer at a medium price.
With regard to further processing and other content, TrustFood together with Dr. Wielgoss – Cocoa biologist and together with Dr. Fischer initiator of PERÚ PURO – the bundled knowledge about the production of natural raw vegetable beans is available. Since our natural beans do not require any further processing after they have been harvested from the cocoa tree and after they have been dried, and processing into semi-finished cocoa mass can be dispensed with, this part of the added value remains at the place of origin and ends in one better pay.
The active purchase decision of each one of us to consume good chocolate guarantees this positive development. Besides us, there are many small and large chocolate manufacturers who produce bean to bar, vegan and whole milk chocolate or dark chocolate under fair trade conditions and in organic. We look forward to every competitor in the chocolate industry – no matter whether it is finished chocolate from the industrial processing of the large chocolate manufacturers or chocolate from small factories from the bean to bar scene. All manufacturers have the opportunity to sell chocolate that has been traded according to this standard. We advocate cooperation instead of against each other, because every manufacturer finds its customers thanks to different tastes.
The plantation offers under the label PERÚ PURO sells their fine cocoa and also makes them here in Europe make ready-made bean to bar bars. You can find the online shop at www.perupuro.de
What does the Fairtrade seal stand for and what is the difference to the TrustFair seal from CHOCQLATE?
With the start of our chocolate production in 2016, we dealt with the topic of UTZ seal certification. We have been going our own way via direct trade since 2012. Please refer History of CHOCQLATE. After careful consideration, we decided to establish our own label. According to the Council of Big Certifiers, "UTZ Certified" is more for the larger chocolate manufacturers created. We'd have the little plantations that are special for us Bio Harvest and dry "Virgin Cacao", extra certification. This is time-consuming, as the control audits take place on site in the countries and always entail additional travel by several people. That would be a significant expense. Instead, we decided to give more to the growers. We also decided with Partners to cooperate, the fair conditions on the plantations regularly direct vor place guarantee. Therefore we work with the Direct trade importer PERÚ PURO, which we in the topic: What does TrustFair stand for at CHOCQLATE have described in more detail.
The other cocoa products, as Cocoa butter and fine cocoa as well as coconut blossom sweetness are provided with the EU organic seal and we purchase them from our main supplier, who uses organic natural products as the basis for the production of Fairtrade chocolates specialized. http://pronatec.com/de/naturprodukte.html
With our own "TrustFair" logo, we promise you to buy from the cocoa plantations without exception according to the requirements and prices of fair trade and to support them fully. Anyone with proof of our suppliers would like to see a fair seal, receives it from us. Natural products are excluded (vegan) from Europe, such as dried raspberries, strawberries, hemp seeds, etc .. 100% of the traded ingredients (roasted cocoa beans, Cocoa butter and coconut blossom sugar) are bought as Fairtrade products - all vegan!
The "Q" in CHOCQLATE is our commitment to each and every one of our
Chocolate bars is a fair chocolate.
Where is Fairtrade chocolate produced? Are there comparable processes for organic chocolate in Europe?
The work in European agriculture and the production of food are not traded at the internationally regulated "fair price". This is the focus of the third world. Even if this causes frowns, as the conditions are sometimes far below level even in Germany. We face the challenge of making good organic chocolate (dark, vegan) to manufacture. So we get everything – except organic cocoa and organic coconut blossom sweetness – from Germany, Austria and Italy. Where possible, also from regional organic farmers known to us. We are following the slow food approach here. 26 employees are employed in the family-run production.
Our organic chocolates are produced with solar energy. On the roof of the production facility in the middle of Germany there is a photovoltaic system for self-supply. This energy generation is also supported by a combined heat and power unit. The electricity generated here flows into production, the resulting heat is used to melt chocolate masses. Efficient and natural use of energy is important to us!
We hope that we have given you transparency in dealing with our organic products. We look forward to seeing you through the entire organic value chain Buy our chocolates, bars and beans unsupported. Ultimately, that benefits many people. Have a look around our online shop.
What is the difference between a Fairtrade seal or label and organic?
At this point we want to give you one or two pieces of information to help you get around in the "jungle" of Label, seal and marks keep track of things. We have included the sections below in whole or in part what we consider to be a very good description of fairafric www.fairafric.com/de/faireabsichten accepted. We also want to make a contribution to publicizing this project to be supported. (Obtain approval ????)
The purchase of certified fair and organic products awakens a clear conscience, because each of us can make a direct positive contribution for people, animals and the environment. Unfortunately, "good" is relative, because how high the proportion of fairtrade raw materials is in an end product or what percentage of the profit ends up with the producers responsible always depends on the respective seal or label. A standardization of the labeling would therefore be very beneficial, but has not yet been implemented.
Seals, also known as seals of approval or quality mark, are intended to indicate the particular quality (such as social or ecological properties of the product). These can, but do not have to, stand for an independent control of products by third parties. There are no legal regulations for the seals, so these can be invented and used individually.
The green organic label is so far the only one in the food industry for which there is a clear legal framework.
The MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) seal is also well known in the food industry. It identifies fish and seafood from environmentally friendly fisheries.
The term Label is a comprehensive designation for word and / or picture symbols that can be seen on products themselves or their packaging. They indicate a certain quality or service. In the food industry, a distinction is made between environmental, sustainability and regional labels. Some of the most famous labels, however not all have equally strict criteria, are: FAIRTRADE, GEPA, Rainforest Alliance or Naturland fair. Compliance with these standards is monitored and the supply chains are transparent. You can find an overview of the labels, their focuses and criteria Download here for free.
What does the Fairtrade seal stand for
"Fairtrade" is a registered trademark and identifies products that meet certain criteria of fair trade.
The terms “fair” or “fair trade” are not protected and unfortunately, as already mentioned above, there is no uniform certification. However, they have European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) and the international fair trade umbrella organizations World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and Fairtrade International Ten common fair trade principles and principles that represent both the international and the content framework.
What are the main organizations?
The Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) based in Germany, becomes Fairtrade International or Fair trade abbreviated. Organizations that adhere to the fair trade standards can certify their products and the products with the known Fairtrade seal mark. Only products can bear the seal, not companies.
The one based in the Netherlands World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) connects 400 globally important fair trade organizations from over 70 countries. It deals specifically with fairness at the individual points in the supply and trade chain and tries to improve it and ensure that all actors adhere to the principles of fair trade. Anyone who does this can equip themselves as a company with a seal.
The TransFair e.V. - Association for the Promotion of Fair Trade in One World -represents Fairtrade in Germany and focuses on lobbying against trade injustices and for fair trade and concludes license agreements with trading partners who offer products traded according to Fairtrade standards.
We have written this text based on the description of Utopia: www.utopia.de/siegel/fairtrade-siegel-bedeutung-kritik/#fairtrade
Why should you buy fairtrade certified chocolates?
With the purchase of a Fairtrade chocolate you can trust that the appropriate trade
- Creates market access for disadvantaged producers.
- maintains long-term, transparent and partnership-based trade relationships and excludes unfair intermediaries.
- pays the producers fair prices that cover their production costs of living and, if requested, provides pre-financing.
- strengthens the position and the rights of workers and small farmers and their organizations
- contributes to the qualification of producers and trading partners
- Compliance with the eight ILO core labor standards is guaranteed during production.
- safeguards children's rights and promotes equality for women.
- promotes environmental protection, e.g. in the form of conversion to organic farming.
- Does educational and political campaign work to make the rules of world trade fairer,
- ensures through verification mechanisms that these criteria are met.
It is definitely an approach to a fairer world. But this approach also has its gaps: In the most important cocoa-growing country, Ivory Coast, 58 percent of households in Fairtrade-certified cocoa cultivation have recently achieved so little income that they were below the absolute poverty line. Despite the above-mentioned uniform and recognized principles of fair trade, all fair trade organizations and product seals of the fair trade certifiers still have their own criteria. Especially with foods that consist of several ingredients exist (so-called mixed products), there are enormous differences and often only contain one component from fair trade (e.g. cocoa in chocolate). Monoproducts, on the other hand, i.e. products that only consist of one ingredient (such as coffee, tea or rice) must be 100% fair.
Product certifications vs. Fairtrade
The goal of the fairen trade are fairer trade structures. In this way, disadvantaged farmers and plantation workers should be able to secure their livelihood on their own in the long term. But even if a product is Fairtrade certified, it is mostly manufactured in the country of consumption - and almost all of the profit is lost in the country of origin. Depending on the type of product, Fairtrade products often only represent a minimal financial benefit for the producers. Fairchain takes the Fairtrade idea further: The raw materials are not only obtained in the country of origin and then processed abroad, but also processed on site and only then exported. This increases the added value in the country and the money stays on site. The idea of the fair value chain originally came from the Dutch entrepreneur Guido van Staveren van Dijk, founder of the coffee company Moyee, formulated. Unfortunately, there is no certification for this yet, but companies that work with fair value chains usually communicate this comprehensively and transparently - as with fairafric www.fairafric.com. Here, consumers can be sure that they can really make a difference and change something with their consumption decisions.
As a small manufacturer, we go our own way to make the best possible contribution to the rainforest, against exploitative child labor (millions of children – loaded with bags weighing 40kg, which they drag for kilometers and often injure themselves with the sharp machetes – are often "physical wrecks" at the age of 12) and thus against the dark side of cocoa farming. We try the hard work of the farmers who weekly every cocoa tree care for (they are very sensitive plants) as best as possible. Here in Germany we process these valuable cocoa beans - the Maya called them the "fruit of the gods" - with the greatest care for all those involved and the environment into vegan chocolates that are pure, fine and creamy. Take a look around our online shop. So far we have 14 types, 3 cocoa bars, cocoa beans and a set for making chocolate yourself.
The photo below is from a very small family plantation in Vietnam, from which we purchase fruity "Virgin Cacao" in direct trade for us personally: You can find it in our new "Virgin Cacao" Vietnam Snack.
