Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a well-known supplier of trinitario cocoa. Our partner Conacado is a cooperative that represents 10,000 small-scale cocoa farmers and has initiated the shift to well-fermented organic and Fairtrade cocoa for customers with high quality standards. They have built large installations on the island in seven regions where the cocoa is taken to be fermented and dried under constant quality control.

Organic cocoa ensures good biodiversity on the plantations in two ways: it improves the organic matter content of the soil, which keeps the soil life at a certain level and improves the water balance of the soil (sponge effect of the soil). It also requires the planting of shade trees, which creates a habitat for birds and insects!

The surcharge supports educational programmes and training for farmers and makes Conacado an important player for small farmers in the Dominican Republic.