Green & Black’s to significantly expand its Fairtrade Certified™ range in 2010
Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand today confirmed premium organic chocolate maker Green & Black’s will be going Fairtrade Certified™ across the vast majority of its block chocolate and beverages range this year.
This means Aussie and Kiwi consumers will shortly be able to enjoy even more Green & Black’s chocolate confident in the knowledge that it is both organic and Fairtrade Certified™.
Today’s commitment by Green & Black’s to Fairtrade will result in an investment of approximately AUD$540k (NZ$685k) a year through additional Fairtrade Premiums paid to Dominican Republic cocoa farmers and their communities. These farmers are now the main source of cocoa for Green & Black’s and the move towards complete Fairtrade Certification is part of their ongoing commitment to ethical trading.
Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand Executive Director Steve Knapp said Fairtrade was excited Green & Black’s had made the commitment to extend Fairtrade Certification across the majority of its range.
“This means more Australian and New Zealand consumers will have the opportunity to buy Fairtrade and know they are helping to make a difference.
“The funding received by farmers through the Fairtrade Premium will be spent on initiatives to improve quality, yields and education which will in turn increase income for the farmers and help ensure the sustainability of the Dominican Republic cocoa industry and a brighter future for farmers, their families and their communities.”
Green & Black’s Managing Director Dominic Lowe said the company bought quality, organic Trinitario cocoa beans from cooperatives in the Dominican Republic, and had done so for 10 years.
“Up until now we have committed AU$540,000 (NZ$675,000) in local initiatives to improve quality and availability, but we wanted to do more to support our farmers.
“The move to Fairtrade Certification is a key milestone in our relationship with the farmers that are so fundamental in the making of the best tasting, premium, organic, and now Fairtrade, chocolate you can buy.”
Green & Black’s will work in partnership with cocoa cooperatives, farmers, local NGOs and Fairtrade to deliver community projects in the Dominican Republic, funded by the Fairtrade Premiums.
