As Halloween slowly creeps up on us, we’re reminded by grocery stores and commercials to stock up on candy, mini-chocolates, and whatever else we decide to throw (gently place) in the trick-or-treaters baggies. Apparently you can’t give kids homemade cookies or brownies, because their parents will think they’re filled with poison. Well, duh. I wouldn’t let my kids eat a stranger’s delicious home-baked goodies; I’d eat them myself and sacrifice my life! Ha, that was supposed to be a joke. Back to Halloween.
When Equal Exchange contacted me telling me about their new line of chocolate bars, I was intrigued. Perfect timing of course for Halloween, and it dawned on me – why are we buying chocolates filled with corn syrup and colors, and artificial flavors when chocolates like Equal Exchange exist? You can buy a box of mini milk chocolate bars that are ORGANIC and FAIR TRADE certified for less than $25 when you use the 30% discount you get when playing their Facebook game!
“With this new line of affordable bars in traditional flavors, we hope to reach new chocolate-loving customers who want to support small-scale farmers, but have yet to find a Fair Trade, organic bar that appeals to their taste,” said Rob Everts, Co-Executive Director for Equal Exchange. “By broadening the market for Fair Trade, we can have an even greater impact on farmers.”
If you want something more substantial then the minis, check out the new candy bars:
- Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Bar – think of this as your regular trail mix, encased in a sweet 55% dark chocolate! Chewy raisins and roasted almonds give this bar a fantastic texture. Perfect to chop up and throw in your granola recipe!
- Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar – Creamy peanut butter lays underneath the smooth milk chocolate. For the classic, childhood taste cravings, this one hits the spot!
- Milk Chocolate Crisp with Puffed Rice & Quinoa – my FAVORITE! Milk chocolate laced with vanilla and caramel undertones, it’s crispy interior is puffed rice and QUINOA. So as I eat two of these bars in a row, I remind myself it’s GOOD for me!
The organically-grown cacao in the chocolate bars is sourced from three Fair Trade co- ops in Peru: CACVRA, Oro Verde, and ACOPAGRO. The organic sugar is fairly traded and sourced from the small-farmer co-operative Manduvira in Paraguay.
That’s another thing I love about Equal Exchange. Not only do they source cacao from Peru, but they also source if from my home country of the Dominican Republic. They have a few of their cocoa mixes with chocolate from Dom. Rep., as well as their organic chocolate bars. Having a connection like this to a company that does so much good in my country, makes me stand by their product even more. By purchasing cacao from Dominican Republic, Equal Exchange is creating a community of farmers that are paid deserving rates for their harvest, as well as being educated in the process.
Want to Fair Trade Your Halloween? Be sure to check out this link that gives you more information about it, as well as using the promo code above (HWEEN12) for a 15% discount on minis (great to give out to kids on Halloween!)
Disclaimer: Equal Exchange contacted me about sharing their new product line. Chocolate was sent free of charge and my opinions (as well as my chocolate addiction) are my own.