Ethical Chocolate
The Chocolate Truffle Company has teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance organization to bring a new ethical chocolate bar to the market place. The new bars are available in both dark (Costa Rica 64) and milk (Costa Rica 38) chocolate. 

Rainforest Alliance FAQs
What is the Rainforest Alliance?
Rainforest Alliance certification is a comprehensive process that promotes and guarantees improvements in agriculture and forestry. The RA’s independent seal of approval ensures that goods and services were produced in compliance with strict guidelines protecting the environment, wildlife, workers and local communities. We in addition prepare tourism businesses to meet the standards of various global tourism certification programs through training and technical assistance, and work with companies on procurement of sustainable goods.

How long does it take for a farm to become certified?
The audit process takes three years before a farm can become certified.

How often are RA certified farms audited?
Each certified farm is audited on an annual basis.

How do funds reach the individual cocoa farmers?
RA raises funds to help individual farmers and the groups they belong to prepare for certification. This means, training to apply the sustainable agriculture standard, and setting up a management system to trace the cocoa and in the case of groups to provide technical support to the farmers. Cocoa is the third largest crop that RA works in, after coffee and bananas. Of the money that RA invests in the producing countries in agriculture, cocoa probably accounts for a quarter, but RA also works in forestry and tourism. RA does not give money to farmers but pays for services to help them achieve certification.

How do RA farmers achieve a better price for their cocoa?
By increasing their market options; once they have certification they can usually negotiate better prices. Also, certified farms over time become more productive because they are better managed.

How many RA certified farms are there in Costa Rica?
There is only one farm in Costa Rica which is an unusual case. Most of the 7,200 cocoa farms that RA has certified in Ecuador, Cote d’Ivoire and Dominican Republic are very small.

What impact is the RA having on the environment in Costa Rica?
RA’ s sustainable agriculture program is based in Costa Rica and RA works in several crops- coffee, bananas, and other fruits. Over 15 years it has had a sizeable impact, not just in how agricultural land is managed but in raising public awareness about conservation and helping make farming and conservation compatible.

For example
Supporting cocoa production contributes to conserving the forest because cocoa grows under shade. The forest protects the cocoa plant and provides habitat for important animals and birds, such as the two toed sloth (choloepus). Making forests economically valuable protects them from being cut down for plantation crops or other uses.

The cocoa farm belongs to Hugo Hermelink, and has been the subject of scientific research undertaken by the Milwaukee Field Museum in USA to understand the relationship between growing cocoa and conserving biodiversity. Mr. Hermelink has installed processing facilities to improve cocoa quality and supports small holder farmers in the region to improve theirs and to find markets.

In 2007, Mr Hermelink’s farm was certified by Rainforest Alliance as it complies with the rigorous standard for social and environmental management. The Rainforest Alliance standard requires looking after the farm workers with remuneration indexed to national legislation, secure work contracts and proper health and safety procedures. The standard requires adopting practices to conserve water, manage waste, reduce pesticide use and keep the soil healthy. All these practices must be duly recorded and are subject to annual inspection.