From Belize

Marco Figueroa
Toledo Cacao Growers Association

Located in Punta Gorda in the South East of Belize, Toledo Cacao Growers Association was the first exporter of organic, Fairtrade certified cacao. From the outset TCGA has enjoyed the support of its principal buyer, the British based company Green and Black’s, the company which developed and successfully marketed the Maya Gold chocolate brand. Both the TCGA and Green & Black’s recognized that a key to the success of the brand was the fact that the cacao was grown by small farmers who followed traditional practices in sustainable orchards under family management in over 30 remote villages ranging in size from under 100 persons to just over 1000. All the farmers produce other crops in addition to cacao, thus ensuring a sustainable food supply for themselves and the community while having cacao for the long-held Maya traditional uses and also as a cash crop. In September 2003 membership of TCGA stood at 170. As of January 2006, membership is over 900. Individual farmers have purchased and planted over 750,000 trees and intend planting at least as many more by 2010. The vast majority of the farmer members are Maya, but membership is open to all. Much of the cacao is planted on community lands managed according to traditional rules which provide some security of tenure without ownership. The farmers rely on the "Alcalde" system to resolve most disputes according to the old ways.