Giving Back

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5 Comments

Comment by Volker Lehmann on March 27, 2009 at 6:04pm

Dear friends:
I am involved in building up a new "fair trade" concept with Original Beans benefiting already through funds that we channel through to smallholders for safeguarding Chocolatales (natural cacao stands) in the Itenez province of Beni, Bolivia. I copy you a link to a blog describing the concept and I would be glad to answer any questions which might come up to further discuss this important issue.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/what-is-the-true-cost-of-chocolate.php .

Saludos, Volker

Comment by Emily on January 31, 2009 at 9:53pm

Hi,

What are your thoughts on organizations like Kiva.org? Has anyone given a microloan to an aspiring chocolatier?

Comment by Langdon Stevenson on January 5, 2009 at 8:54pm

Donald, I like the idea of giving back a portion of profit to growers. This is something that Shawn Askinosie does with the growers that he works with. It is also one of the underling principals of a new grower assistance program being run in the South Pacific by a friend of ours.

One of the really good aspects of this approach is that it doesn't over inflate the price of the finished product. A small extra margin on the grower's price can translate into a significant increase in price of retail chocolate. Where as an extra 10% margin at retail could conceivably double the grower's return.

Great aim, hope you get there. Love to hear more about your plans to buy direct as they develop.

Comment by Donald Tyler on January 5, 2009 at 4:48pm

We're looking to engage our farming partners in a "fair-trade Plus" program where not only do we pay sustainable prices for the ingredients we also allocate a portion of our profits back to the farmers. We are not purchasing direct currently, we're not at a point growth-wise for this to be an option however it's where we are heading.

Comment by Holly & Paul Stabin on May 18, 2008 at 3:35pm

The Chocolate Lovers Travel Club is built around a mission of "giving back" as every journey that we take improves the conditions of families around the world.

You see, we donate 10% of our net travel proceeds for just for that purpose.

For example, Clay is meeting us in Belize this week - near the birth place of cacoa. We'll be learning about the process of harvesting pods on cacao plantations, fermenting, winnowing, roasting, conching and of course, tasting and comparing the end products.

CLTC members are able to travel around the world with Clay Gordon (and sometimes with additional tour leaders - like when we go to Hawaii this fall for both chocolate and coffee) to receive a quality education in all aspects of the cacoa/chocolate industry. It's also a lot of fun and lifetime friendships are created.

CLTC members headed to Belize this week, have already made a generous donation to Hope Unlimited - a worldwide organization that vastly improves the lives of children and their families.

This is why we are encouraging all of you to join us in Nashville this coming Labor Day Weekend - because we'll not only enjoy a great time with Clay at the competition, but we'll also be making a permanent difference around the planet.

You know, so many people think nothing of jumping on a plane for a 3, 4 or 5 star vacation and spending money only on themselves. CLTC offers a unique opportunity for it's members to enjoy a superb vacation or mini-vacation, and to give back at the same time.

All CLTC memberships are complimentary.