Chocolate is made from cocoa, and a small number of companies control the cocoa supply with very little accountability. Hersheys and M&M/Mars control 2/3 of the American chocolate market and claim they are not responsible for the child slavery practices of their cocoa suppliers. The Ivory Coast is the world's largest producer of cocoa and it is estimated that this country and its surrounding regions employ almost 300,000 child laborers. Yet major corporations stubbornly refuse to pass up on cheap, child labor produced cocoa. You can hold these companies accountable by only buying Fair Trade Certified chocolate ensures not a minute of abusive, forced labor was spent creating your treat. Fair Trade companies also practice environmentally sound farming techniques, so it is a victory for human rights and the earth.
Fair Trade Standards
Fair trade is a social movement and a market based approach towards helping producers reach sustainability. By advocating a higher payment to growers of goods, they help workers gain self-sufficiency and give them a higher stake in the products. There are two fair trade standards, for small farms and hired labor situations:
* In small farming situations, there must be democratic decision making among the workers. All producers must have a say in how Fair Trade Premiums are invested.
* In hired labor situations, workers must be payed what is regionally referred to as decent wages, and all health and safety standards must be met. Child labor is prohibited.
View TransFair USA's complete list of Fair Trade Certified Chocolate Brands.
