Become A Discriminating Chocolate Consumer

Buy a chocolate bar and only 3% of the price usually pays for the raw ingredients (cocoa, butter, milk, and sugar). Buy a chocolate bar that comes from one country, such as Madagascar, where the cocoa is processed and the bar is manufactured and more people are employed, companies make more money, and countries collect more taxes.

     When there is more money to be made, why don't the many cocoa growers in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Sao Tome and Principe, Papua New Guinea, Grenada, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Vietnam become single origin chocolate producers for the chocolate bar, bulk cocoa, and fine chocolates market?

     The obstacles are many. Dedicated people have to prune, deliver, and peel cocoa beans. Since the manufacturing process determines the finished chocolate product's taste, setting up a factory requires a major amount of investment and production expertise. Current labeling doesn't help consumers determine if the raw cocoa and the finished chocolate product come from the same country. Finally, there is the challenge of breaking into European and US markets dominated by companies, such as Hershey.

     Nonetheless, kids search for Pokemon Go characters, why not look for African stores that carry Chocolat Madagascar chocolate bars?

Sporting Violence

Clashing helmets and competitors who bite remind sports fans around the world that violence occurs on the field. But, when a fan threw out the first pitch from his wheelchair at this year's World Series baseball game, he reminded everyone that violence also occurs at sporting events off the field. How did his injury happen? He was attacked in the parking lot after a game.

Violence is so prevalent at soccer games that Franklin Foer, in his book, How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization, delved into the psychology of fans who attack each other.

Spotters for trendwatching.com report that Ecuador has responded to the threat of fan violence by keeping two white seats empty at its Club Sport Emelec Stadium in honor of two fans killed at games. The venue also sponsors a website, where fans can sign a pledge to avoid violence at soccer matches.