Chocolate SSC: The Good Valentine

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Chocolate

Forced and child labor remain problems on both chocolate and sugar plantations, but two brands—Ithaca Fine Chocolate's Art Bar, Sweet Earth Organics—combine fair-trade certified cocoa and sugar in their organic chocolates. Even America's favorite chocolate brand, Hershey's, has added sustainable chocolate to their product line with the acquisition of Dagoba, which uses certified organic cacao and cocoa nibs in its Dark Chocolate Covered Cocoa Nibs ($8.99, 4 oz.; www.dagobachocolate.com, 800-393-6075).

Also, as with flowers, certified organic chocolate reduces the pesticide load on the planet; conventional cacao is second only to cotton in crops that require the most pesticides. And chocolate made from shade-grown cacao provides a natural habitat to rainforest species.

Ethical Chocolate Choices: Sweet Earth's Valentine Gift Bags made with organic, fair-trade certified and vegan chocolate ($6.95; www.sweetearthchocolates.com, 805-544-7759); Equal Exchange's Mini Chocolate Basket, with fair-trade chocolates in a bamboo basket ($36; eeretail.stores.yahoo.net/specials.html, 774-776-7400); Ithaca Fine Chocolate's organic, fair-trade certified Art Bar ($12/four bars; www.gxonlinestore.org/artbar.html); Viva Terra's 12-piece organic chocolate truffles in a handmade silk box ($36; www.vivaterra.com, 800-233-6011); Organic Wine and Chocolate Set from Eco Express ($44.99-69.99; www.ecoexpress.com, 800-733-3495); Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Valentine Heart ($9.99; www.chocolatebar.com, 317-844-2886).