Tis’ the season for chocolate! And boy are you in for a treat today. We have lots of chocolate to talk about, and lots of chocolate for you to win!
But first, let’s get serious. West Africa is the source of 70% of the world’s chocolate, the Ivory Coast alone produces 40%. The beans that are harvested in West Africa are then mixed into almost every mass produced brand of chocolate. But here is where it gets serious. In West Africa, the Ivory Cost in particular, child trafficking is very common. Kids and families go to the Ivory Coast in search of jobs, but then the children are separated from their families, and trafficked to cocoa farmers. Some of the farmer’s pay the children a small sum to work on the farm, others pay them nothing. The children are forced to work long hours, perform dangerous tasks, and are given minimal food and shelter.
This is where Equal Exchange is stepping up and making a difference. All of their chocolate is sourced from small scale farmer co-ops in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Ecuador and Peru. The farmers all own their land, and control their business. All of the chocolate from Equal Exchange is organic. They partner with farmers using sustainable farming methods, without pesticides or fertilizers. The chocolate is made without corn syrup or other additives, so you can feel better about putting it in your body. You can learn more about the fair trade of chocolate and what Equal Exchange is doing on their website.
You can play a game on Equal Exchange’s Facebook page to win some of their new candy bars, as well as learn more about chocolate. They currently have 3 new candy bars. One filled with peanut butter (my personal favorite), a crispy one filled with crisped rice and quinoa, and a dark chocolate fruit and nut bar. All were delicious, and I love the idea of quinoa in candy! I was also given mini’s that were just milk chocolate – super silky and smooth. They are going to be great for trick or treaters!
Want to win some of your own chocolate, just in time for Halloween? Well Equal Exchange is giving one lucky winner a 24 pack of candy bars!
Open to residents of the US Only. I will notify the winner via email, and they will have 48 hours to respond, or I will pick a new winner.
**I was sent 6 Equal Exchange Candy Bars, and a box of mini chocolate candies. The giveaway is sponsored by Equal Exchange. All opinions are 100% my own.
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