Cooking
The Rainforest Alliance sent me a collection of Rainforest Alliance Certified and Verified chocolate. I liked some it, including fun candy bars from Bixby and chocolate bars from Dagoba. I would love to be able to tell you that a simple logo like the Rainforest Alliance frog or one of the fair trade certifications like UTZ or Fair Trade USA guarantees that the products you are buying are better for people, animals and the environment. But I can’t. It’s just not that simple.
- Ruby Sparkler Recipe
Thanksgiving is a potluck affair at my parent's house. My folks cook the turkey and stuffing but the other dishes are up to the guests who arrive with appetizers, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, salads and dessert. Those who can't cook, are tasked...
- Chopper Chef Knife Giveaway & Favorite Knives
Congratulations to Greg Patent, A Baker's Odyssey cookbook author (a great book by the way) and The Baking Wizard blogger who won the Chopper Chef Knife in the giveaway. In looking at the comments I found it interesting that so...
- Anticipation
Guess where I’m going next April? Actually, our dates aren’t firmed up yet, but the plan is that Bob, Chuck and I will be going to Sicily next spring. Bob and Chuck, knowing that I love the anticipation of a trip almost as much as...
- Cherry And Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Since my sister was making the cake for our birthday celebration last Saturday, I decided I would make some ice cream. I got my ice cream maker a couple of months ago and I love it. Up until now, I had been focusing on making low-fat...
- A Bowlful Of Summer
As of yesterday, I still had two ears of corn in the refrigerator from last Sunday’s farmers market. I know, I know... corn should be cooked immediately, lest the sugar start turning to starch. Seems that corn is so sweet these...
Cooking
Is Certified Chocolate Better?
Certifications are all about transparency, but I couldn’t find details on the fees on the Rainforest Alliance website and a representative of the Rainforest Alliance didn’t supply them to me (some details on the comments section). In speaking with people who work both for companies that do and don’t carry the Rainforest Alliance logo I learned that the fees that are charged for verification and certification are not insignificant and it's likely those costs are passed on to consumers.
The cost for independent certifiers who can reportedly charge as much as $750 per day, in countries where the average monthly salary is only $50. Also only 30% of cacao might meet the standards and other ingredients might not meet any of the standards, one such ingredient is palm oil which can be very destructive to the environment. So is certified better?
The cost for independent certifiers who can reportedly charge as much as $750 per day, in countries where the average monthly salary is only $50. Also only 30% of cacao might meet the standards and other ingredients might not meet any of the standards, one such ingredient is palm oil which can be very destructive to the environment. So is certified better?
I think certifications programs are intended to do good, but ultimately, knowing the company that produces your chocolate is even better than any logo. Some chocolate companies I greatly respect for their products as well as their values include Amano Chocolate, Guittard and Pacari. Some have the Rainforest Alliance certification and some don't.
Read more about the FairTrade, UTZ and Rainforest Alliance certifications and what they mean, the positive and the negative.
Disclosure: My thanks to the Rainforest Alliance for sending me samples
Disclosure: My thanks to the Rainforest Alliance for sending me samples
- Ruby Sparkler Recipe
Thanksgiving is a potluck affair at my parent's house. My folks cook the turkey and stuffing but the other dishes are up to the guests who arrive with appetizers, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, salads and dessert. Those who can't cook, are tasked...
- Chopper Chef Knife Giveaway & Favorite Knives
Congratulations to Greg Patent, A Baker's Odyssey cookbook author (a great book by the way) and The Baking Wizard blogger who won the Chopper Chef Knife in the giveaway. In looking at the comments I found it interesting that so...
- Anticipation
Guess where I’m going next April? Actually, our dates aren’t firmed up yet, but the plan is that Bob, Chuck and I will be going to Sicily next spring. Bob and Chuck, knowing that I love the anticipation of a trip almost as much as...
- Cherry And Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Since my sister was making the cake for our birthday celebration last Saturday, I decided I would make some ice cream. I got my ice cream maker a couple of months ago and I love it. Up until now, I had been focusing on making low-fat...
- A Bowlful Of Summer
As of yesterday, I still had two ears of corn in the refrigerator from last Sunday’s farmers market. I know, I know... corn should be cooked immediately, lest the sugar start turning to starch. Seems that corn is so sweet these...