Our long-term, more than 15 years, direct partner in Ecuador works with around 550 farmer families in the Napo province of Ecuador. The cacao grows in socalled Chackras, where biodiversity is thriving. Next to cacao plants big trees like the Chuncho or Bàlsamo, home to the Amazonian jungle, grow and function like umbrellas to protect the cacao trees from heavy rains and provide much needed shade. Their strong roots prevent the soft Amazonian soil from Erosion. Chili plants and their scent work as a repellent for insects whilst other trees with sweet fruit lead them away from the valuable cacao. Edible plants like yucca, vanilla or ginger or medicinal plants like the Guayusa provide not only additional income for the farmer families but also food and healthy nutrition for them and protected animals who live in the Chackras. These extended standards of organic agriculture are not only providing the profitable certifications, but also permit the indisputable unison with Pachamama, mother earth.

Cacao grows particularly well in dry sandy soil in Ghana. The climate change with its delayed rainfall and reduced water levels creates challenges during the planting phase. Ghanaian farmers only have a simple infrastructure available. Yayra Glover, our partner in Ghana, helps to expand the knowledge of farmers through diverse research projects. His vision has become reality: Cacao grown in the whole Suhum District complies with Organic and Fairtrade standards. In the Suhum region in Ghana Felchlin works with the Yayra Glover Project. Yayra Glover is a pioneer in Ghanaian organic agriculture and was the first person in Ghana to create a direct connection between the farmers in the Suhum area and our Swiss manufacture. He believes that organic cocoa farming and the implementation of climate resilient and sustainable agriculture is essential to fight the effects of climate change in Ghana and Africa. Organic farming cooperatives like the Yayra Glover project represent an economic empowerment for the local farmers, create sustainable jobs, income and access to the organic market with a high quality product. The prohibition of dangerous and unapproved agrochemicals protects both, the environment and the health of the farming communities.

Madagascar, a tropical island off the African south coast, has an abundance of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. The nutrient rich soil found in the north-west, in the region Ambanja on the Sambirano River, is fundamental for the growth of one of the world’s highest quality cacao, cultivated in accordance with organic certification standards. Max Felchlin has been working together with farmers in Madagascar since 2005. A trusting partnership and passionate engagement at all levels ensure the organic cacao is purchased directly from the farmers and is of the highest quality.

“Hacienda Elvesia” was founded by Swiss settlers. Around 60 people there live from the cultivation of Criollo and Trinitario cacao on the Dominican peninsula Samaná. Elvesia Dominican Republic Couvertures adhere to the highest standards for organically grown produce. They are free of synthetic products, pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertilisers. Dominican Republic is also the origin of the organic cacao butter we use for our organic couvertures.