US chocolate company to train cocoa out growers in Ivory Coast

Blommer Chocolate, North America's largest processor of cocoa beans and ingredient chocolate products, is to expand its sustainable farming initiatives with a new program in West Africa. This program will focus on cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire and is called the Cote d'Ivoire alliance of Farmers, Olam International and Blommer Chocolate (CIFOB). CIFOB is modeled on the company's foray into sustainable farming in ... Indonesia under SAFOB.

According to Peter Blommer, Chief Operating Officer of the company, "CIFOB is introducing programs to teach modern farming and business techniques that will help improve yields and quality. We expect to see significant improvements in family incomes ... and safer labor practices."

CIFOB has started working with 15 cooperatives throughout the cocoa growing regions of Cote d'Ivoire. Farmers are trained in techniques to revitalize their cocoa farms and to improve cocoa quality.

"Simple technology can go a long way in helping farmers improve their incomes," noted company official Karl Walk. "For instance, we have introduced a greenhouse type structure solar dryer to the cooperatives. The dryers provide a weather proof, natural method of properly drying cocoa beans, which allows the farmer to create a consistent product for the marketplace. These dryers were first used ... in Ecuador and resulted in a 30-40% increase in farmer incomes."

The program also provides transparent market pricing to the cooperatives and the ability to sell cocoa directly to Blommer. In the first year, Blommer anticipates establishing commercial contracts valued at more than $12,000,000 with CIFOB partners.

Mr. Walk continued, "With the continued expansion of SAFOB and the projected success of CIFOB, Blommer expects to have commercial contracts exceeding $100,000,000 in support of sustainable farming initiatives by 2010. In concert with these contracts, we anticipate that these programs will have a positive impact on nearly a quarter million people in the cocoa farming community."

Earth Times