Prior to President Obama’s visit to Ghana, Divine Chocolate, a fair trade chocolate brand co-owned by Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Cooperative in Ghana, invited him to visit and see fair trade in action.

With a fifteen year record as a democratic farmer organization of 45,000 members, Kuapa demonstrates how a more equitable trading system can work and is an excellent example of cocoa farmers organized democratically to participate in shaping their own futures. It stands as a powerful example for other African producers, for industry initiatives and for policy makers.

While Obama didn’t make it to Kuapa, I was pleased that his speech to the Ghana parliament addressed two key ingredients for shaping a policy of fair and sustainable trade.

“Partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility”

Because 70% of the world’s cocoa comes from West Africa, the fates of chocolate brands and cocoa growers are linked. A sustainable trade system must include a commitment to true partnership. Today the discussions about terms of trade – whether at the level of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) or discussions with government and industry regarding issues of child labor and the cocoa sector — are conducted largely without democratic representation of cocoa farmers. Companies and policy makers interested in fair trade must insist on a fair say for cocoa farmers inside institutions that impact their lives.

“Africa’s future is up to Africans.”

A system of fair trade encourages farmers to decide for themselves how to invest in their future. Right now there is an incredible opportunity to build the capacity of cocoa farmers to become players in the global market. For example, the Gates Foundation has funded a $40 million Cocoa Livelihoods Program in West Africa. A measure of its success should be how well cocoa farmers are prepared to become equal participants in shaping the terms of trade, not merely how well does it prepare farmers to produce better cocoa.

But forging a system of fair trade isn’t simply up to Africa or the Obama administration. It requires the participation of individuals like you and me as well. It demands that we let companies and politicians know that paying fair prices is the minimum that should be done. It requires that we value empowerment of African producers and we measure companies and policy makers against their efforts on this front. To learn more about these issues and how you can get involved, go to: www.allafrica.com and www.africaaction.org.

-Erin Gorman, CEO of Divine Chocolate

Cadbury’s UK announced their intention this week to convert approximately 20% of their chocolate range to Fair trade, joining Divine Chocolate on a journey we started 10 years ago.

Seventy percent of the world’s cocoa comes from West Africa. Big chocolate companies such as Cadbury’s have been sourcing from the region for a century. While Ghana cocoa has developed a global reputation for its quality, cocoa farmers remain poor and unable to access the true value of what they create.

Divine is delighted that Cadbury is joining us in saying that the current way of working is neither sustainable nor fair. Together we can create a step change, where the very least companies should do is pay a Fair Trade price for the ingredients they buy, and that anything less is just not acceptable.

Today is the 52nd anniversary of Ghana achieving independence from colonial rule. We wonder whether this anniversary marks another historic moment for West Africa. Is this the new era of fairness in the chocolate industry, of real partnership between chocolate brands and the cocoa farmers who help make chocolate great?

We believe that it will be so – with your support.

My challenge to you is this:

1. If you’re planning on purchasing chocolate, use your purchasing power to support Fair Trade for cocoa farmers. You can find a full list of Fair Trade chocolate brands at www.fairtradecertified.org
2. Ask for Divine Chocolate and other Fair Trade products whenever and wherever you shop.

And – I invite you to join in our celebration of this new age of fairness for cocoa farmers. Enter to win a gorgeous Divine Chocolate basket. Share it with your friends and family and ask them to join in and to make trade sweet for cocoa farmers!

-Erin Gorman, Divine Chocolate