2. LOCATIONS OF COCOA STUDY CENTERS

Locations of 17 Cocoa Study Centers
A. Dominican Republic
B. Costa Rica
C. Columbia
D. Venezuela
E. Peru
F. Ecuador
G. Bolivia
H. Brazil
I. Ghana J. Côte d’Ivoire
K. Nigeria
L. Cameroon
M. Madagascar
N. Indonesia
O. Vietnam
P. Papua New Guinea
Q. India

Why These Locations: Unique Aspects
Dominican Republic: important to the organic/Fair Trade business. Conacado represents “bloques” of farmers. Pronatec, a Swiss company, grinds cocoa powder and produces cocoa butter at its plant in Santo Domingo.
Costa Rica: important source of organic cocoa. Well known for eco-tourism and like Ecuador, includes trips to cocoa-growing villages.
Columbia: is encouraging farmers to grow cocoa rather than drugs. The Santander region is known for its superior cocoa beans as well as its excellent coffee.
Venezuela: famous for its Criollo varieties, Chuao, Maracaibo, and Choroni.
Peru: Naranjillo cooperative supplies much of the cocoa liquor, butter, and powder for the Fair Trade Organic market of North America.
Ecuador: well known for its eco-tourism (e.g., Rio Muchacho; Yachana Lodge) that includes trips to cocoa-growing villages.
Bolivia: the president, Evo Morales, sets this country apart. Many entrepreneurial start-ups are attempting to connect with markets in the First World.
Ghana: produces 18% of the world’s cocoa. Ghana has a long history growing it—since Tetteh Quarshie brought beans to his parent’s farm in the late 1800’s. Ghana’s beans are especially prized for their fat contents. The government controls all aspects of the cocoa economy. Kuapa Kokoo is a 40,000 member Fair Trade cooperative that also owns a 30% interest in the Day Chocolate Company, which manufactures Divine Chocolate.
Côte d’Ivoire: the most important cocoa-growing country in the world. Supplies 75% of the cocoa for American chocolate. Although there are 60 buying companies in San Pedro, the major exporting port, the bulk of the market is controlled by ADM, Cargill, and Barry-Callebaut.
Nigeria: produces 5% of the world’s cocoa. This country is awash in venture capital, thanks to its oil industry. Hence, opportunities for making cocoa sustainable are rich.
Cameroon: also produces 5% of the world’s cocoa, part of it in the second wettest region on earth. Also home to some of the last large tracts of rainforest. Cameroon has a long history of European and American involvement.
Madagascar: one of the most exotic regions in terms of biodiversity. Home of Madécasse, a gourmet chocolate company that manufactures the bars in Madagascar.
Indonesia: one of the largest producers of cocoa. Bali is becoming well known as a source of raw cocoa products.
Vietnam: farmers have embraced this tropical crop and are implementing modern growing and fermenting methods.
Papua New Guinea: one of the last wild places on earth. Interface between indigenous peoples and a growing industry is cause for study.
India: Southern provinces and Sri Lanka are planting cocoa. India represents a fast-growing economy in the Far East.