CONEXIÓN Chocolate

As a company, we are committed to working towards bringing respect and value to the Ecuadorian cacao producers and leaving as little impact as possible on our earth. Much of this work is done through the choices we made in producing our chocolate. We also play a significant role in the following programs, which strive to meet those goals within the industry.

Ethical sourcing has come to be a phrase many use with very little meaning behind their words. At Conexion, we walk the walk. Our team, including our founder, work hand in hand with the cacao farmers we partner with to produce incredible cacao that is packed with flavor. By its nature, cacao is a collaborative crop. To realize its full potential, cacao must be carefully fermented in large quantities after its harvest. For this reason we work directly with farmers’ cooperatives in each region of Ecuador, supporting over 4000 small farmer families. These farmers and cooperatives are dedicated to organic practices and the preservation of the fine Ecuadorian Nacional cacao. We are committed to paying fair prices to our producers, the empowerment of women, involving young people in the sector (generational relief), and incentivizing education. By sourcing directly from cacao cooperatives and working together with them on projects, we are the connection between hard-working producers in Ecuador and professionals and chocolate lovers all over the world.

HCP is a not-for-profit organization in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture. Together, chocolate industry professionals, chocolate makers, farmers, and chocolate enthusiasts from around the world are determined to save the quickly diminishing Theobroma cacao trees that produce the most high quality, flavorful chocolate and identify the farmers who grow them. To that end, we have designated trees on a number of farms around the globe as Heirloom Cacao. In early 2018, the HCP commenced our Heirloom Cacao Nursery Project made possible by a 2017 grant from the Lesley Family Foundation.