Kakum Canopy, Cape Coast, Ghana
(photo by orva studios)
Côte d'Ivoire is a West African country with beach resorts, rainforests and a French-colonial legacy.
transformative change
The Ivory Coast (known by many as Côte d'Ivoire) is a pivotal region in the global cocoa industry, producing an estimated 60% of the world's cocoa—a figure that highlights its significance but also underscores the challenges it faces. The region has often been spotlighted for the unfortunate incidents of child slave labor and environmental degradation, issues that have led many in the artisan chocolate community to distance themselves from sourcing cocoa from this area.
However, while there is some truth to the horrific stories, they tend to be more isolated events than the media may have you believe. What makes it even more difficult is that broad boycotts can exacerbate the issues, hurt good farmers/families, and even labels/certifications aren’t always effective indicators of “good vs. evil”. Take a moment to read what Dr. Kristy Leissle (The Doc of Choc) had to say about it: Boycott multinationals, punish farmers.
At Flight Chocolate, we see an opportunity for transformative change rather than avoidance. We choose to engage with and support cocoa farms and cooperatives in the Ivory Coast that are committed to turning the page on these historical challenges. By partnering with organizations like the Rainforest Alliance, we are part of a proactive movement aimed at encouraging the cocoa sector in this region and supporting their rich proud heritage.
The cacao industry in this country is estimated to involve about
4 million people
of which approximately
800,000 are farmers
Cocoa is typically grown in small family-owned plots along other cash crops and are tended by the family members.
Cocoa beans are fermented in heaps on banana leaves at the plantation site. Fermentation takes 5 – 8 days.
Fermented cocoa beans are dried in the sun on bamboo mats; turned regularly by hand.
Resulting in raw cocoa beans that will be be shipped to Artisan chocolate makers all over the world
We Care
Our Ivory Coast cocoa beans are sourced through a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance. The Rainforest Alliance's work in the Ivory Coast represents a bold step toward sustainability, offering increased accountability and oversight within the cocoa industry. Their efforts are designed to uplift the economic, social, and environmental standards, starting with the smallholder farmers at the heart of cocoa production. By aligning with these initiatives, Flight Chocolate is not just purchasing cocoa; we're investing in a future where the cocoa industry operates in harmony with the people and the planet it depends on.
While continued diligence is necessary, the issue of child labor is a very complex and nuanced one. The following is a nice short summary that describes the issues and remediations in a very broad way.
