February 13th, 2012

On Valentine’s Day, we think chocolate, and maybe roses, but, OK…mostly chocolate.
Rich, sweet, velvety, dark, crunchy (or smooth) chocolate. Wonderful, comforting, dopamine-inducing chocolate.
Yet there’s a battle being fought for your chocolate heart; that is, your consumer loyalties.

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February 5th, 2011

Hershey’s Kisses don’t have such a huggable reputation this Valentine’s Day with the campaign to get a commitment from Hershey on child labor still unresolved. The U.S. candy maker has not responded to calls from human rights activists for assurances that Hershey’s cocoa bean suppliers in West Africa are not exploiting child labor. (Read more about this issue.)

So let’s find some sweets and Valentine Day treats that are ethically and fairly produced. The best way to assure that you’re supporting the right labor practices is to buy Fair Trade products. Unfortunately, your Main Street grocery and nearby Big Box chain store may not offer much in the way of Fair Trade.

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February 13th, 2009

Green Right Now Reports

We thought we were done with the Valentine’s Day tips. But then along came these soooo cute little seal and polar bear pictures from the World Wildlife Fund and we just said, awwwww! soooo cute. We had to spread the word.

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January 26th, 2009

By Laura Elizabeth May
Green Right Now

Now that you have had a month to lose any extra holiday pounds, Valentine’s Day is here and that means more chocolate! Plan ahead this Valentine’s Day and buy Fair Trade chocolates for your special someone, while helping to end world poverty.

Fair Trade chocolate has met certain requirements to ensure that the workers producing the cocoa beans (typically in developing nations) are receiving fair wages. Fair trade also ensures that there are no children enslaved to the process, and that all farmers have a safe and healthy working environment. Purchasing fair trade chocolate lets your sweetie know you care about others as well as him/her.

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