Make Each Morsel Matter

Americans crave chocolate, but there are bitter costs: M & M/Mars, See's and others purchase cocoa from Africa's Ivory Coast, where child slavery has been well documented. In addition, rainforests around the world are being cleared to produce high-yielding, sun-grown cocoa, which—unlike shade-grown, organic varieties—relies heavily on agrochemical use.

Take Action

Write your favorite chocolate companies, asking them to purchase their cocoa from certified fair-trade, shade-grown and organic farmers. See Global Exchange's fair-trade chocolate campaign, which includes a fax to Paul Michaels, president of M&M/Mars Inc. requesting they sell fair-trade chocolate.

Buy from companies that sell fair-trade chocolate:

La Siembra Group's Cocoa Camino (613-235-6122) chocolate bars.

Green & Black's and Maya Gold Chocolate (www.greenandblacks.com)

Newman's Own Organics (800-272-0257) sell milk chocolate, sweet dark chocolate, butter toffee crunch, milk chocolate crisp rice, sweet dark chocolate orange, and sweet dark chocolate expresso bars.

Rapunzel Pure Organics (800-207-2814) sell milk chocolate, semi-sweet, and "lady truffles" wrapped in a ladybug foil covering.

Many of these chocolates can also be purchased at Global Exchange, SERRV and Chocosphere.