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Baltimore, September 10, 2003 — As world trade talks in Mexico focus on agriculture, Lutheran World Relief is launching a new fair trade project for one set of small farmers and the consumers who love their product, chocolate. Seven years ago through the LWR Coffee Project, LWR began promoting - and helping earn - fair prices for farmers who grow coffee. In 1999, the LWR Handcraft Project was launched to provide vital income for artisans in developing countries. Now, LWR is launching the LWR Chocolate Project.
The LWR Chocolate Project challenges parishioners of all ages to make purchases that reflect their faith and show support for fair treatment of cocoa farmers. 40,000 farmers stand to benefit from this new fair trade project.
The LWR Chocolate Project features milk, hazelnut and dark chocolate from a company called Divine Chocolate. Divine's cocoa comes from the Kuapa Kokoo cocoa cooperative in Ghana. Kuapa Kokoo - which means "good cocoa growers" - has a mission to empower farmers in their efforts to gain a dignified livelihood, to increase women's participation in all of the coop's activities, and to develop environmentally friendly cultivation of cocoa. But because Divine Chocolate is Fair Trade Certified, buying these bars through the LWR Chocolate Project also ensures that:
- farmers receive a guaranteed price for their goods, and the security of long-term trading contracts
- farmers benefit from guaranteed minimum health and safety conditions
- farmers, their workplace and the environment are not exploited - education and training opportunities are offered, especially for women and children.
Lutheran parishes can participate in the LWR Chocolate Project by:
- Using the LWR Chocolate Project as a parish fundraiser
- Holding a fair trade chocolate sale for Easter, Christmas or Valentine's Day
- Including fair trade chocolate in welcome baskets for new members, as appreciation gifts for faithful volunteers, and as Christmas gifts
- Making fair trade a topic of discussion for youth and adult forums
- Encouraging local retailers to sell fair trade chocolate
- Setting up a fair trade chocolate sampling and sales booth at a community event or fair
Chocolate is available through mail, fax and phone orders, or online
through the LWR Chocolate Project webstore at