NOT AS SWEET AS YOU THINK! A Closer Look At The Chocolate We Eat

What does it have to do with YOU and your role as a global citizen? Where does your $1.50 go when we purchase a chocolate bar? What does this chocolate chip have to do with interconnectedness?

Cocoa- The Key Ingredient Where is the cocoa in your chocolate bars produced?  Cocoa is grown in humid, tropical climates  The world’s largest cocoa producing countries are: Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Cameroon, Malaysia and Ecuador.  The largest chocolate consuming countries are: Switzerland, Germany, Norway, UK, USA, France, Spain, and Canada  What do you notice? Is there a pattern?

The Map Tells The Tale

When is the last time you ate a piece of chocolate? IS THIS FAIR? People in the developing world are producing the product needed to sustain a multi-billion dollar industry in the developed world. Many farmers around the world work for very low wages and in very uncertain economic and social situations depending on the market.

The Real Truth About The Story Behind Your Chocolate Bar

Key Words Needed To Help You Decide Free Trade Agreements- Agreements between different countries by which goods can be traded internationally without trade barriers or tariffs. (Conventional Trade) Fair Trade- An alternative trade model, encouraging ethical, social and environmental practices in production and trade. Majority World- An alternative term to describe a major portion of our world (Asia, Africa, Latin America). AKA- developing world Poverty Line- The minimum level of income needed to cover a person or family’s basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, health care, etc.) Subsidies- Financial aid given by governments to farmers to offset the costs of production.

What are the conditions in a Cocoa Producing Farm? *90% of the world’s cocoa is produced on small family farms. *The average amount of money earned by the farmers is $1.00 a day. *The corporate intermediaries make billions. *All family members work on the farmer and much of the labor is provided by children. *In West Africa, 60% of these children are under 14 years old. *Children involved in this industry generally do not have time for any kind of education. *A considerable amount of workers on cocoa farms have been kidnapped and sold into slavery. *Workers work in poor conditions and there is no certainty that they will make any money. *Workers are at the mercy of our world markets and those who set the prices.

What are the conditions in a Cocoa Producing Farm? *Farmers are often forced to sell their cocoa for less than it cost them to produce it. *Farmers are not paid regularly by the intermediaries which causes problems for day to day life and trying to meet the needs of the family.

But Then There Is Fair Trade...

The Advantage of Fair Trade *Farmers involved in fair trade co-ops have much more stability and the chance to see their product at fair prices. * Many areas have co-ops that help the communities to dig wells, build health clinics and schools, and to take care of their basic needs. *Fair Trade organizations DO NOT tolerate child and adult slavery.

Cadbury is one company which is going the fair trade way.

CLASS ACTIVITY Role Playing

Roles Farmers- The people who grow the cocoa that is needed for chocolate production. Intermediaries- They suggest a price for the farmer but you only offer a low one. You contact a processor. You then sell the cocoa to the retailer. Retailer- You buy the chocolate bars in order to sell them. Transporter- You transport the product to retailers around the sale. Consumer- YOU!! You are the person who purchases the chocolate bar.

THOSE WHO LIVE UNDER THE POVERTY LINE MUST MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON- FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, EDUCATION, HEALTH SERVICES- BUT THEY OFTEN CAN’T AFFORD ALL OF THESE! THE FAIR TRADE COCOA FARMERS HAVE MORE ECONOMIC STABILITY AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COVER THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS.

Not As Sweet As You Think Writing Assignment Please respond to the following questions and pass in. Remember that in grade 9, a couple of sentence will not do the trick!! Show that you are thinking and that you have an opinion. What are you thoughts about this substantial difference in income between the two types of trading? Does fair trade work? Is it “fair?” Can you think of any potential problems with the idea of fair trade? Why is there such a difference in this world as to who earns the money and who does not. Can this be resolved somehow? Explain.