"Yachana Gourmet is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. Yachana buys the cocoa directly from the small-scale farmers for a price that is at least 25-30% higher than the price paid by local intermediaries."

The Fair Trade Federation recognizes Yachana Gourmet as a responsible operator and recognizes Yachana Jungle Chocolate as a Fair Trade chocolate. Yachana Gourmet's profits support the community health , rain forest conservation and sustainable development programs of the Foundation for Integrated Education and Development (FUNEDESIN ). FUNEDESIN is a non-profit Foundation dedicated to finding sustainable solutions in the struggle between the ideals of rain forest preservation and the realities of life in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Yachana Gourmet, as well as all other all Fair Trade members, is held to these principles and practices in all trading relationships:

• Fair Wages
• Cooperative Workplaces
• Consumer Education
• Environmental Sustainability
• Financial and Technical Support
• Respect for Cultural Identity
• Public Accountability

Many of the chocolate producers around the world rely on child labor and paying as little as possible to the cocoa farmers so that they can keep their profits high. They exploit the workers in order to benefit themselves. This practice leaves many farmers in poverty while the chocolate producer becomes rich. The solution to end this is simple. Producing a fair trade chocolate ensures that both parties benefit from the sale of the chocolate, rather than just one party as has been done in the past.

Since the goal of Fair Trade is not to maximize profits but rather to give the benefits of trade into the hands of communities that need it most, new social and environmental standards for international companies are being set. Fair trade members such as Yachana Gourmet, who buy their cocoa directly from cocoa farmers in developing countries, often also offer technical and financial support as does Yachana Gourmet (for more information on how Yachana Gourmet helps its farmers, please visit the "Helping Farmers" page of this website).

By purchasing a fair trade chocolate you are helping to insure that these farmers are not being exploited for their work, but instead are receiving a fair price for their cocoa so that they are able to provide for their families. Your decision to buy fair trade chocolate has a great impact on the lives of roughly 10,000 small family farmers with whom Yachana Gourmet and FUNEDESIN work.

For more information about Fair Trade, please visit the Fair Trade Federation website . For more information on what Yachana Gourmet and FUNEDESIN do for the cocoa farmers with whom we work, please visit the "Helping Farmers" page of this website. For more information on how you can help, please visit the How You Can Help page of FUNEDESIN's web site.

Thanks for your support.