I don't like to shop for anything but food. Yet, there are those inevitable times when growing children need things, and this past weekend was one of those times.
My children know the only way I can survive a clothes shopping trip is by ending it with chocolate. Yet, there we were, my older daughter and I, stuck in a surburban shopping wasteland, surrounded by chain stores, and a little "rashy" emotionally from a little too-long in a disappointing dressing room. My mom needed a new toothbrush, and since we were nowhere near Whole Foods for that wonderful recycled Preserve toothbrush, we poked in to the nearest Rite Aid drug store.
And there it was. Like an oasis in the desert. As clear as day, and as beautiful as a starry night. Hershey's Organic Chocolate. We stood there, transfixed, and I swear I heard the angels sing.
"Wouldja' look at that!" I declared. "Right here in Rite Aid!"
My daughter breathed an audible sigh of relief, knowing that we would not need to embark on the proverbial wild goose chase for organic chocolate in the middle of nowhere.
So a little research reveals that, yes, Hershey's has acquired Dagoba Organic Chocolate, LLC. It appears to have released three organic products under the Hershey's name: extra dark chocolate squares, dark chocolate squares, and milk chocolate squares. According to a Hershey's press release:
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Dagoba," said Frederick Schilling, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Dagoba Organic Chocolate, LLC. "Hershey's deep commitment to quality and sustainability throughout its supply chain will help Dagoba improve and expand its mission of improving cacao farmers' livelihoods and expanding organic farming methods. This partnership will enable us to continue creating the world's most exquisite chocolate and make it available to a much broader consumer base."
Although I prefer dark chocolate, this particular Rite Aid drug store carried only the milk chocolate squares (which, of course, we bought).
Baby steps. It's all a series of baby steps. But, as always, there's hope.
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5 comments:
Hershey's bought Dagoba??? It's gonna take me awhile to see that as good thing. I sure hope you're right.
That's interesting it seems like all the small organic guys are getting bought up by bigger traditional companies in attempt to get "green cred" but I suppose if it makes organic products more readily available then it's a good thing. Maybe they will start producing organic chocolate chips.
So true - shopping needs aid. I always succumb to Farmers Union Iced Coffee!
Hmm... bad idea methinks.
Hershey has a pretty sketchy history in the sourcing of their chocolate. Here is just one of many places to start checking into the child labor practices on African cocoa farms.
Here's a good alternative, if a bit hard to find. It's a chocolate farming cooperative in Ecuador called Kallari, and it's winning all kinds of quality and taste awards world-wide. Their young and small right now, but are a quickly rising star.
Happy chocolate hunting,
Oscar
Director, Freshtopia.net
I'm not against Big Business. Big Business can make one little positive change and change the world, so it should be our ally. We must demand truth in advertising, transparency in labeling and adherence to strict standards, however.
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