(NAPSA)—Despite our ongoing battle with the bulge, Americans consume about 13 pounds of chocolate per person each year. And while recent news of chocolate’s health benefits has no doubt eased the minds of many calorie con- Age scious consumers, there’s an even better reason to feel good about a daily chocolate indulgence. For many cocoa farmers in West Africa, where most of the world’s cocoa is grown, thereislittle to show for long hoursof back- breaking work. In fact, few farm- ers in West Africa have ever tasted chocolate. Small scale farmers with no access to credit and no wayto trade directly in the marketplace must rely on middlemen who cheat them out of a fair price. In the end, farmers may earn aslittle as $300 a year. But deep in Ghana’s Ashanti region the cocoa farmers who are members of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative have reason to celebrate. The Kuapa Kokoo farmers are also owners of Divine Chocolate—the world’s first farmerowned Fair Trade chocolate brand. In addition to having a share in the profits, the Kuapa Kokoo farmers have two seats on the board and a say in the direction of the company. All of the cocoa in Divine Chocolate bars is purchased on Fair Trade terms. This means that farmers receive a guaranteed minimumprice, plus Kuapa Kokoo invests the Fair Trade social premium in community projects such as schools, health clinics, clean drinking water, and programs to promote leadership and entrepreneurship among the thousands of farmers in Kuapa Kokoo. Lutheran World Relief and Catholic Relief Services have partnered with Divine Chocolate to help educate Americans about the difference that supporting Fair Trade chocolate makes for farmers in Ghana and elsewhere in the Som =2=Cti<‘ Chocolate that helps make the world sweeter not only tastes sweet, it benefits those who grow it, such as Ama Kade from Kuapa Kokoo. world. Lutheran World Relief’s Chocolate Project challenges chocolate lovers in Lutheran congregations to put faith into action and give cocoa farmers a fair deal by selling Divine Chocolate and sharing it during fellowship hours. Catholic Relief Services has launched a new fundraising program, Raise Money Right, which encourages Catholic schools and parishes to sell Fair Trade chocolate. To learn more about Divine Chocolate and Kuapa Kokoo, visit www.divinechocolateUSA.com. What you can do: Join Lutheran World Relief and Catholic Relief Services in their support of Fair Trade and Divine Chocolate. Visit www.lwr.org or www.crsfairtrade.org. Encourage your community, school or faith congregation to use Fair Trade chocolate for fundraising and educational programs. Or purchase Divine Chocolate online through SERRVInternationalat www.serrv.org. Look for Divine Chocolate and other Fair Trade products when you shop and ask your grocers to stock them if they don’t already.
