Can you imagine that Christopher Columbus didn't think the cocoa bean was worth bringing back as one of the treasures of the New World? He didn't realize why the bitter drink that Montezuma drank all day long, was an elixir appreciated only by the rich and destined to be a favorite of millions of  people today.

 Making a difference is possible. You can learn more about it by watching the path that some Pioneers have taken...

Rainforest Alliance  k                                 Kallari

"The Journey of The Pod" exhibit is about the people and their community-the cocoa pod is the messenger of their story.  This multi media exhibit is Sponsored by Fox Chase Bank and can only be seen at the Bucks County Chocolate Show at this point. This vivid display of images, characters, and  information help illustrate the journey of the bean to bar-connecting you to communities, giving a glimpse into history and the challenges of todays Farmers and Plantation owners. For more details about the exhibit for your school group, club or museum, contact The Chocolate Bar: 215-850-6292.       Change of plans-Tim McCollum from Madecasse Chocolates will be unable to attend due to his trip to Madegascar.

Regardless of where you are in the world, chocolate comes from cacoa (ca-cow) that was grown in a Plantation somewhere in a Region of the Rainforest, Côte d'Ivoire, Brazil, Ecuador, Columbia, Ghana,  Indonesia or Malaysia (to list a few)and harvested by communities of people all ages. As you look more closely, the people and their relationship with cacoa tells a rich story. This story helps us better understand a relationship with nature, wildlife, resources that are precious and of coarse~the future of chocolate.                                                                                                                           Cacoa is also traded as a commodity. It reflects the political climate of many places it's grown and sold. Often, the plantation owner and the farmer are taken advantage of when it comes to benefiting from the profits. The initiative to work directly with those people who grow and harvest the cacoa to manufacture it as well, is growing. Here's just a few of the leaders in this area, with many others taking their lead as well.          

SponsorShip Opportunities of all kind are available regarding 'The Journey of The Pod'.    Sponsor a bean to bar Company or Chocolatiers who's interested in being part of the Show, yet puts their marketing dollars back into the Rainforest Community the chocolate is made.

The World of Chocolate is complicated. The cacao is just one element of it. Here's what a few companies are doing to share with you what they're learning and what they're doing to make a difference.

Theo Chocolate  Organic and a trendsetter for his purist approach to rich flavor		Kallari   Bean to bar equals communities harvesting and manufacturing the cacoa.
MARS Looking for best practices that insure a sustainable future here and in the Rainforest regions cacoa grows.		Ghirardelli      Passionate about staying true to the history of chocolate and flavors as we know it

Chocolate comes from all over the world. Have you checked the weather conditions lately for growing chocolate in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Ghana, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, West Africa?    Have you heard of any news that might impact the demand or prices of chocolate? Do you know how much the standards of living vary from one area to the next? Has the weather been favorable to sustain the Plantations along the region?

Looking into what's happening in Ecuador...

Looking into what's happening in Cote d' Ivoire... Things we can do to make a difference

World Cocoa Foundation Organizing efforts of Major Chocolate and Confection Manufacturers they've  researched and documented the global impact on Best Practices to set standards that protect the world of chocolate.

  From Bean to Bar
The History of Chocolate
          Thank you to Sponsor   FOX Chase Bank