We, as a small, family business, take our responsibilities within society seriously. We feel especially passionate about our impact on the environment and our small farmers, which are our origin and part of our DNA.
When you use our products, you can rest assured that the farmers were paid prices far above the market value, had access to technical and logistics assistance and received our support in their communities with emphasis on education. We take pride in helping small farming communities thrive.
Our core values are our main drive and we hope you join us to make this world a more equal, healthy, and eco-friendly place, while promoting mutual support and collaboration with our fellow small businesses around the world.
OUR SOCIAL COMMITMENT
As our family's history clearly shows the importance of education, we are strong advocates to support this cause. We work in different fields to incorporate this concept, and our strategy is a direct, hands-on approach, as we are very inclusive in our community. We will keep working on making sure that our farming communities are growing and being sustainable.
Our social and sustainable work involves, among others, these activities and contributions:
In the farms: 
- - Training for sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.
- - Education in the administration of small farms.
- - Working together and using models of international organizations to develop an inclusive business model with the farmers.
- - Yearly food drives at the most remote coops in areas affected by flooding or other hardships.
- - Implementing college scholarships for farmer kids to study in Guayaquil (delayed to 2024 due to COVID-19).
- - Own seedlings and stems farm to breed the best cacao varieties and sell to farmers at no profit to improve yields.
- - Paying premium prices for cacao beans to small and medium farmers, ~10% above international market.
- - Open distribution and advisory on food safety and regulations for cacao and other regional products (vanilla, plantain, macambo, lucuma, teas, freeze-dried tropical fruits).
In the factory:
- Continuous professional training for personnel.
- A profit-sharing system with our workers after each fiscal year.
- Follow SEDEX and surpass standards to monitor fair labor practices in farms and processing facility.
- Factory employees have higher wages than industry average in Ecuador, promoting continuous education through seminars and courses.
- Close relationship with local community outside Guayaquil, donations to community centers, childcare, fire department, and other needs.
From decades, our family businesses contributed to farmers, factory workers and the local community in Ecuador, as shown in the following chart for the most recent events. This includes our latest COVID-19 relief efforts.
Transparent Prices - Prices paid to the farmers (NOT the exporting company!)
CocoaSupply will show actual invoices if requested. Backward traceability ensures:
- Net Price of Cocoa Bought from the Farmer
- Farmer Name, Address, Tax ID, and invoice number
- Bank payment made to that farmer
- Taxes retained (1-2% by Ecuadorian Government)
We are committed to paying prices ABOVE Fair Trade minimums. Fair Trade prices are FOB; our prices are higher even as farmgate prices. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION ONLINE due to sensitivity of farmer personal and financial data.
