World Cocoa Foundation expands membership
the organisation's global reach and influence.
The first is the Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (CocoaPhil), a non-profit organisation serving the Philippine chocolate industry to promote the integrated and sustained development of cocoa.
CocoaPhil provides services in the areas of education and technology, research and development, and compilation of industry data, while also functioning as a forum for ideas and promoter of trade exhibitions and conferences.
"Bridging development opportunities to Filipino cacao farmers is a mission that can best be achieved with working partnerships, and these partnerships should be founded not only with local groups and institutions, but also with foreign groups such as the World Cocoa Foundation," said CocoaPhil president Edward David.
"The Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines' membership to WCF could open more areas of development opportunities and technologies that can be channelled onto small farmers towards sustainability in the Philippine cacao industry."
Edward David and Josephine Ramos will represent CocoaPhil on the WCF Board.
The second new member underlines the diversity of the WCF's membership. In contrast to CocoaPhil, Lake Champlain Chocolates is a US firm that focuses on manufacturing distinctively flavoured truffles.
Based in Vermont, Lake Champlain Chocolates makes truffles, hot chocolate, and specialty chocolate bars that are available nationwide.
"Improving farmers' incomes, labour practices, the eco-system and worker access to education - including children - is what our customers are asking us to support," "In Vermont, we live close to nature. We value what shapes the landscape, as well as our economy and culture.
"We also value our sense of community and know in some small way we can affect the lives of those who make our own livelihood possible."
