As part of the Doozy Pots mission to be kind, considerate and conscious of all our impacts we spend a great deal of time and thought to find the best ingredients, making sure they are delightfully delicious and have a positive impact on the planet and the people who grow them. Cocoa is used in so many desserts we love and is widely available, but business-as-usual commodity cocoa relies on murky supply chains, poor labor and human rights practices, and causes environmental degradation. Knowing this, we've spent a lot of time finding the right partner to source our cocoa and chocolate products from.

We are proud to work with our supply partner, Global Organics, to source cocoa and chocolate from Agostoni, which is built upon an ethical business model called the Equal Partner Direct Buying Program that is the foundation of their sustainable cocoa bean sourcing strategy. This program is Agostoni’s system of direct, fair trade that generates social, economic and environmental benefits for cocoa growers in the regions they work with (Dominican Republic, Peru and Uganda) – in fact, the program predates the oldest formal fair trade 3^rd party certification, and no doubt influenced many of those certifications. Unlike the common practice of purchasing cocoa on the open market, Agostoni’s collaborative relationship with farmers and direct trade approach ensures a traceable supply of premium quality cocoa beans at a price that captures the full economic, social and environmental costs of cocoa farming. This program gives us the confidence that we’re supporting a sustainable supply chain, healthy environment, and fair labor practices.

Economic

Agostoni’s active participation in farming cooperatives, commitment to offering fair prices up front and a guaranteed market means economic security for farm families and future generations of cocoa growers. These long-term relationships and supply contracts have improved the economic strength of Agostoni’s partner communities in central Peru, allowing the farmers’ cooperative to secure bank credit. By providing agricultural training that helps sustainably manage yields, ensures soil fertility, and provides opportunities for additional income through techniques like intercropping, along with  equipment and infrastructure for collecting and processing cocoa, Agostoni fosters long-term financial success for their farm partners. Training farmers with proper fermentation and processing techniques leads to higher quality beans, which can command higher prices.

Social

The steady income from Agostoni’s direct trade program, combined with fair trade premiums, empowers communities in cocoa growing regions to invest in social programs, schools and health clinics. Agostoni also supports “future farmer” programs to keep younger generations interested in cocoa farming, while guaranteeing that no child or slave labor is used.

Environmental

Agostoni’s commitment to sustainable agriculture reduces the consequences of improper chemical use including serious health risks to farmers, contamination of the local environment and trace residues in the finished chocolate. The promotion of shade grown cocoa requires fewer chemical inputs, protects soil fertility, preserves wildlife, and allows for intercropping which provides extra nutrients to the soil and additional income to farmers. By requesting organic cocoa, Agostoni drove the conversion of farms to organic methods and farmers received support to achieve certification. There are now 30,000 acres of certified organic land across Agostoni’s supplier regions and farmers can collect premium prices for organic beans.

At Doozy Pots we recognize there is always more work to be done when it comes to building truly sustainable, ethical, and collaborative relationships with ingredient growing communities around the world. These practices matter, and we take great pride in the work we and our partners have already done – but more importantly, we look forward to the continued hard work ahead.

To get a taste of this sweet story you can find Agostoni organic cocoa powder in our Chocolate Raspberry Swirl and Chocolate Mint Chip, which is also loaded with Agostoni Organic Dark Chocolate chips. Learn more about the Agostoni story here.

To learn more about sustainable cocoa and how we can improve cocoa supply chains check out the Cocoa Barometer.