Chocolate Makers Between a Rock & a Hard Place

The Dilemma: The Ivory Coast & Ghana grows more than 60% of cocoa. The countries are threatening to suspend certifications that ensure chocolate was not grown on protected forests or with forced child labor.  

What They Want: A price plan to increase the price/ton for cocoa & give 70% of the increase (after costs) to farmers. 

Pros of the Price Increase:

• Sustainability conscious consumers increasingly demand certification.
• Paying the farmers a living wage is a more sustainable model of business.

Cons of the Price Increase: 

• Companies assume a big risk with the price increase. 
• Increased farmer pay incentivizes farmers to grow more cocoa on protected lands which could lead to unsustainable overproduction. 

San Antonio Express-News  | Chocolate makers face sustainability dilemma of farmers’ pay