Hello Katherine,
At Whole Foods Market, we are highly selective about what we sell, dedicated to strict product quality standards, and committed to supporting environmentally friendly agricultural and production methods. This includes our commitment to sourcing cocoa from responsible and reputable sources.
All chocolate sold under Whole Foods Market's 365 Organic Everyday Value brand is made from organic cocoa beans grown in the Dominican Republic by a young co-op of small farmers called the YACAO Project. Established in 1999, the YACAO Project aims to raise the standard of living for Dominican farmers by providing a high quality product. With a professional agronomist on site, YACAO teaches cocoa farmers modern organic methods for the sustained health of their environment. And by guaranteeing the market price for all cocoa that meets YACAO’s high quality standards, the project has already provided a livelihood for many small farmers and their families. For more information, visit www.yacao.com. Cocoa used to make our 365 Everyday Value chocolate also comes from a responsible vendor partner in the Dominican Republic.
When it comes to other brands of chocolate in our stores, it is important to us that we source products from companies that do not utilize ingredients or cocoa harvested using questionable or unethical labor practices. Much of the chocolate we carry is from cocoa harvested in Central and South America, and the companies whose chocolate we sell are very upfront about their labor practices and sourcing. Some of the most common brands you’ll see at Whole Foods Market that have submitted verification of ethical labor practices and sourcing include: Chocolove, Scharffen Berger, El Rey, Valrhona, Green & Blacks, and Dagoba – just to name a few. If you are concerned about a specific brand, we encourage you to contact the manufacturer directly.
If you have any further questions please use our on-line response form.
Best regards,
Rachael
Rachael Gruver | Global Customer Information Specialist | Whole Foods Market | 550 Bowie Street | Austin, Texas 78703
Rachael
Rachael Gruver | Global Customer Information Specialist | Whole Foods Market | 550 Bowie Street | Austin, Texas 78703
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