Put down that Whitman Sampler!  There is child slavery in those bon bons!

February a big month for giving chocolate to your sweetheart, but before you comb the drug store isle, take a moment so I may persuade you to rethink your gift.

The chocolate that is used is bulk low quality (really no quality) that is bought on the commodities trade market, imported by our large chocolate corporations. 42% of the worlds cocoa beans come from the Ivory Coast were 12,000 children as young as 7 yrs old harvest the beans. These children are smuggled into the country by human traffickers with the promise that they will make money for their needy families in nearby countries. These families never see their children again. Human traffickers make about $230 euros per child. Their corrupt government has covered up this issue since cocoa is their leading export.

Three major multi-nationals - ADM, Cargill and Callebaut harvest 75% of the worlds cocoa, all have headquarters in the Ivory Coast and control the pricing that supply chocolate companies with their cocoa beans.  Nestle headquartered in the Ivory cost for 50 years claim they no nothing about child slaves. Profiting on the backs of children, similar to the sweatshops of China that supply American retailers.

The $13 billion U.S. chocolate industry is heavily dominated by just two firms - Hershey's and M&M Mars - who control two-thirds of the market. Unfortunately, both of these companies fall into the category of those companies who use large amounts of Ivory Coast cocoa bought on the commodities trade market, and whose products are almost certainly produced in part by slavery.

M&M Mars and Hershey Foods Corp. are not alone. Other companies whose chocolate is almost certainly tainted with child slavery include: Ben & Jerry's, Cadbury Ltd., Chocolates by Bernard Callebaut, Fowler's Chocolate, Godiva, Guittard Chocolate Company, Kraft, See's Candies, The Chocolate Vault, and Toblerone. While most of these companies have issued condemnations of slavery, and expressed a great deal of moral outrage that it exists in the industry, they each have acknowledged that they use Ivory Coast cocoa and so have no grounds to ensure consumers that their products are slavery-free.

In 2001 all chocolate manufactures signed an international agreement not to engage in child slavery, but there is no enforcement and the abuse continues. Read more here http://www.chocolatework.com/chocolate-slavery.htm

Make the effort to seek out Fair Trade or Direct Trade Chocolate makers. These small producers are listed on my web site, buy direct from them, as I don’t have a financial interest, just want you to make the ethical choice. Ask your local chocolatier where they source the chocolate to melt that creates their confections and my guess is they are one of the above. No chocolate shop in NY makes their own chocolate, they remelt and add their own ingredients.

Indulging in quality hand crafted chocolate guarantees that farmers receive fair wages for their crop, sustains the rain forests and helps shed light on the unethical practices of greedy corporations. Give a heart with your heart.

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Life’s many paths are never without a twist to keep you on your toes. I had all intentions as a child of the 60’s to save the world, from what I didn’t know. Earned a BFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York City that lead to a career in the ad world on
Madison Avenue, far from the ideology of the joining the Peace Corp. - that was the 70’s. I woke up in 1990…my small town of Northport, NY was rocked by how power corrupts absolutely, so I ran for election to help change the system.

As the Mayor, concerned about our local environmental and infrastructure when it was not popular, passed laws that has stood the test of time. A decade of politics behind me, retired the gavel in search for a sweeter life. Tried on multiple careers and pooled the skills learned along the way to come full circle. That brought me back to the question I had as a child, how can I now help others?

Chocolate… a life long passion of chasing the ultimate bar, lead me to discover artisan chocolate makers in the U.S. that have a partnership with farmers in the rain forests around the world. I had no idea that this would lead me to a recent trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon rain forest to harvest cacao and witness first hand how the noble cacao pod transforms into a chocolate bar. Empowering cacao farmers to lift themselves out of poverty, they reinvest back into their plantations and communities and thus
protect the rain forests.

Exotic Chocolate Tasting was created in January 2010. Through this original concept of chocolate and wine pairing, showcases my knowledge and experience with guests while they enjoy their two favorite pleasures at entertaining and educational events held at wine bars, vineyards, restaurants and family rooms for public, business and private functions.

My mission is bringing awareness of the indigenous people that create the chocolate, the health benefits, and to demonstrate how to mindfully savor every morsel for your well being.  Contact:  http://www.exoticchocolatetasting.com/