Three things you didn’t know about chocolates

As you stand in the chocolate aisle of the grocery store, have you ever stopped to think about the story behind each bar?
Knowing that your choice of chocolate has a positive impact on the farmers who cultivated the cocoa beans can sweeten the entire experience. When choosing your favourite treat, make sure it is one that combines pleasure with purpose. Here are three things you might not know about chocolate, and how each one could impact your decision in the candy aisle:

1 The cocoa industry affects over 5 million small holder cocoa farmers around the world. The majority of cocoa is grown on small farms operated by independent farmers in developing countries in West Africa, Southeast Asia and the Americas.

2 Fifty per cent of cocoa farming activities are completed by women, yet women rarely benefit from cocoa-related income. While women play a key role in cocoa farming, many of them do not receive the income benefits they deserve.

3 Cocoa is produced by farming households in developing African countries who often lack affordable financial services. Rural Africans have been forced to use whatever high-cost lenders are available in their area.