Catholic Relief Services sells free-trade chocolate from Ghana cocoa

Published: 2005-10-17

ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) -- Grown in Ghana and manufactured in England, a socially responsible brand of chocolate is now available through Catholic Relief Services. In October, the Baltimore-based CRS, the U.S. bishops' overseas aid agency, began selling cases of Divine chocolate bars online and over the phone. Touted as fair-trade chocolate, Divine is made with cocoa grown by the 47,000 members of a cocoa farmer's association in southern Ghana called Kuapa Kokoo. Members are paid a price that covers the cost of producing the cocoa, and they have the security of a long-term trading contract, according to Divine Chocolate's Web site at www.divinechocolate.com. In addition, farmers receive a $150 "social premium" for every ton of cocoa sold, which goes toward improving the farmers' living standards and farming productivity. Catholic Relief Services sells Divine chocolate online at www.crsfairtrade.org and by phone at (888) 294-9665. Cases of 30 snack-size milk chocolate or dark chocolate bars cost $23. Boxes of 10 larger bars range from $16 to $18.

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