Chocolate for the Birds

Many birds that visit your yard during the summer months migrate annually to and from Latin America where their habitat is being increasingly converted to sun-grown chocolate plantations.

Why Sustainable Cocoa?

Chocolate begins with the cacao plant, which is native to the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. For more than a thousand years, cacao plants were cultivated throughout the forest, tucked under a lush canopy of shade.

While much cacao is still grown in the traditional way, many growers have cleared the forests to cultivate the trees in open plantations, leading to a host of environmental problems:

• Deforestation of traditional cacao farms adds to the loss of tropical forests that is already occurring at an alarming rate in Central and South America and Africa.



• Loss of forest habitat in this region is directly linked to a shrinking migratory songbird population worldwide.



• When trees are cleared, natural predators that keep insects in check are no longer present, so farmers turn to powerful pesticides that harm people and wildlife.



• Cacao plants rely entirely on tiny flies called midges for their pollination. Without these specialized insects, the world's supply of chocolate would be in jeopardy. And as rainforests are cleared, pollinators like the midge are in jeopardy.

Where to Buy Organic Chocolate

Endangered Species Chocolate
Like the National Wildlife Federation, this Oregon-based company works to promote the plight of endangered species and ensure their survival for future generations.

Ithaca Fine Chocolates
Inspired enjoyment from the first Fair Trade Certified chocolate company in the U.S. Art Bars are 100% organic, Fair Trade Certified, exquisite Swiss chocolate bars that feature an art reproduction on a collectible card inside.

Equal Exchange
Our new organic cocoa mix provides an immediate, positive way to respond to the recent reports of chronic poverty, exploited child labor and slavery on cocoa farms in West Africa — the origin of 70% of the world's cocoa.

Shaman Chocolates
Enjoy the "Food of the Gods" and help support Mexico's Huichol Indians.

Divine Chocolate
Divine Chocolate is unique because the Ghanaian cocoa farmers actually own a third of the company. Farmers receive Fair Trade premiums for their cocoa beans, which helps them improve their communities.

Cocoa Camino
Bars, hot chocolate and cocoa mixes are made from fair trade, certified, 100% organic cocoa from a small farmer co-operative in the Dominican Republic. This shade-grown cocoa is of the highest quality, free of pesticides and full of rich flavor.