It’s nearly Valentine’s Day, that time when our minds turn to thoughts of … chocolate of course!
It turns out that chocolate can be a crop that helps address climate challenges. It grows on long-lived trees near the equator. Using a sustainable growing technique called cabruca, some farmers place cacao trees in rainforests where they grow under the rainforest canopy.
In addition, a growing number of small producers provide alternatives to the chocolate that large corporations produce using industrialized techniques that hurt the climate and exploit workers.
This year, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day and take action on climate at the same time. Support the growers who are producing and harvesting cacao beans sustainably and the companies that carry that commitment forward in the delicious products they sell. Some to consider include Original Beans, Endangered Species Chocolate, and Alter Eco.
(Hint: share this post with a fellow chocolate fan or with someone who ought to be giving you chocolate!)