The Co-op Food Stores

added 05/01/08

by Erin Gorman

Researchers have found that American women appear to crave chocolate more than women elsewhere in the world.

But for women cocoa farmers in Ghana, chocolate is much more than a craving. For the women of Kuapa Kokoo, a fair-trade farmers’ cooperative and part owner of Divine Chocolate, chocolate is the way to a bright future.

Fair trade means that farmers are paid a fair price for their crops and receive premiums to invest in their communities. An equally important part of Kuapa Kokoo’s commitment to fair trade is the advancement of democracy to empower farmers in the local and global markets.

Democracy makes it possible for the farmers of Kuapa (45,000 members in 1,200 villages) to discuss how to improve their communities in ways that benefit the greatest number of people. In a world where cocoa farmers are exposed to the vagaries of a market beyond their control, farmers value the ability to speak up for themselves, say what is on their minds, and set the chart for their own futures. Democracy also requires that both men and women take part.

Cecilia Appianim is a cocoa farmer from the village of Asemtem in the Central Region of Ghana. She is also a member of the national executive council for Kuapa Kokoo, and she visited the United States recently to help promote Divine. She explained the importance of women taking part in this way:

“Fair trade has helped us a lot. Because of fair trade, women can come out boldly and take part in every event. Before, it was not like that. Before, we would stay at home and watch the men. And we would work with our husbands and they would take the money, put it in their pockets, and when it came time to buy food or pay school fees they would say the money is gone.

“But Kuapa has opened our eyes to see that everything should be 50-50. So if a man has one vote, a woman has one as well. If the men come together to make a decision, then the women are there to take part as well. So now we are empowered, and the men, they cannot cheat us again.

“Also because of fair trade, we have many projects for women. We make soap, t-shirts, batik. We grow other foodstuffs and sell in the market and then put some money into the credit union for hardship times or to pay our children’s school fees.”

Divine Chocolate is co-owned by the farmers of Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana, so women and men farmers are involved in decision making at every level.

So, women, as if we need a reason to eat more chocolate, think of Divine as more than a way to satisfy your cravings. You can purchase Divine Chocolate at Coop Food Store and your support is a contribution to democracy and the empowerment of women around the world.

Erin Gorman is the CEO for Divine Chocolate

Got a comment on this article?

We’d love to hear from you! Please email us your suggestion or question or visit our discussion board.