Anane, Twanna, James

Fairtrade fortnight has been and gone but the same farmers are still there harvesting and preparing the cocoa beans for our chocolate.

Back in February, I was invited by Divine Chocolate and Ethical Superstore.co.u to meet two Divine farmers, Anane Mensah, 41 and James Adiyiah 62, from the Enchi region and Kokofu community in Ghana.

Anane and James work for the Divine Cooperative alongside another 45, 000 people. Their stories were simple, an outline of their day and the process to make their wonderful chocolate. Both men spoke passionately about the real benefits that their families have received because they earn a fair trade wage. Their children have been schooled and several are studying at university. They have built themselves a home. And they are spokesmen for their colleagues and communities in how the business is run.

James told us about local women and the loans they have received via Kuapa, which they have invested in soap-making and tie-dye cottage industries. Encouraging women’s empowerment through investing in diversification schemes such as these remain key to Kuapa Kokoo’s ethos.

The farmers travelled the length and breadth of England spreading their message about the positive benefits of buying fair-trade.

But there were serious undertones to this celebration of their achievements. Other farmers who work in ‘normal’ that is, non fairly-traded cocoa farming conditions are suffering. Their quality of life is poor and their families do not receive the same opportunities to succeed.

Both men implored us to keep buying fair trade products. Without us and our purchasing power they would suffer the same fate as their counterparts.

A lively question and answer session ensued, and I wanted to know whether the women in Ghana loved chocolate as much as the women in the UK and James informed me that they  do! The appeal of chocolate is indeed universal.

Recently, that goliath of chocolate makers, Cadbury, has announced that its Dairy Milk will be fair trade by the summer. Let’s hope that very soon, all chocolatiers will take their lead and ensure that all cocoa farmers are paid a living wage.