Dominican Republic
Nestled in the heart of the cacao rich Duarte province in the Dominican Republic, Öko-Caribe maintains close relationships with its 165 farmers through technical training, in agronomic practices and organic certification. Owners Adriano and Gualberto have personal relationships with all farmers, offering micro-finance loans for cacao-related expenses, as well as personal loans for family emergencies or other community needs.
We visited this fantastic group in March 2019 and were able to see the tangible impact of job stability that the craft chocolate industry provides. The ladies in this photo below, among others at OKO Caribe, ensure a higher quality cacao product that our company purchases.
By purchasing based on quality - not on the commodity scale - we provide an alternative market for farmers to receive a higher wage for their work.
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