Sandra Intriago, from Calceta, Ecuador, poses with drying cacao beans

This Halloween and all-year long, you can directly support farmers and workers by choosing treats made with Fair Trade Certified™ cocoa. The cocoa industry faces many urgent challenges, and meeting the evolving needs of producers worldwide is critical for building a more sustainable future. Too many workers across the cocoa supply chain endure low wages, child and forced labor, environmental harm, and unsafe working conditions.  Meaningful progress demands real commitment, and Fair Trade USA™ partners are leading the way. 

Fair Trade Standards set requirements for pay, working conditions, and environmental protection while creating opportunities for farmers to invest in their futures. These standards ensure that cocoa is grown and traded in ways that respect both people and the planet. By sourcing cocoa from certified farms, brand partners are helping to transform the industry for the better. 

Building Stronger Supply Chains  

Nearly 90% of the world’s cocoa is produced by smallholder farmers, many of whom lack bargaining power. Fair Trade helps provide a safety net through minimum pricing and the distribution of Community Development Funds. This ensures farmers are shielded from market volatility while receiving more capital to build thriving livelihoods. Funds are democratically managed by farmer committees, and are often used on education, healthcare, community infrastructure, or household needs. In a single year, cocoa farmers earned more than $3.2 million in Community Development Funds.  

The cocoa industry has long been linked to many social and environmental challenges. Our standards help address them, focusing on key issues like:  

Child Labor: Across Ghana and Ivory Coast, an estimated 1.56 million children are involved in cocoa farming. Fair Trade prohibits child and forced labor and helps farms to develop clear remediation plans if cases are found. 

Environmental Protection: Cocoa expansion can cause deforestation. Fair Trade standards mandate biodiversity protection, compliance with land-use laws, and training on agroforestry best practices. 

Farmer Empowerment: Fair Trade strengthens farmer organizations through training in sustainable agriculture, improving yields while safeguarding ecosystems. 

Worker Welfare: Safe conditions and protections against discrimination help ensure dignity and security for every worker. Prioritizing education, gender equity, climate action, and economic opportunity help farmers build their businesses and set themselves and their families up for future success.  

Unreal: Unjunked. Uncomplicated. Un-freaking-believable. 

Unreal shows what’s possible when a brand puts people and the environment at the heart of its mission. Every product in their lineup, from peanut butter cups to chocolate gems, uses Fair Trade Certified™ cocoa. Their commitment ensures cocoa farmers earn fair wages, work in safer conditions, and receive Community Development Funds that can be invested in worker-led projects like scholarships, leadership training, and further education in their own communities. 

Unreal also prioritizes the quality of other ingredients, avoiding artificial dyes and flavors, using plant-based colors like beet juice and spirulina, and working toward sourcing more organic ingredients. The company’s commitment to Fair Trade Certified cocoa means that products aren’t coming at the expense of farmers or the planet, but are protecting livelihoods and helping set standards that protect future generations. Their leadership strengthens farming communities, protects essential ecosystems, inspires more brands to follow their example, and gives consumers the chance to align their values with their purchasing decisions.  

Global Leadership with Fair Trade 

Fair Trade USA has certified more than 35 million pounds of cocoa imports annually from key regions including the Ivory Coast, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. Our impact and partnerships with values-driven brands like Unreal show how a commitment to Fair Trade can make supply chains stronger and more sustainable. As a conscious shopper, you can also support this work and make a difference. Every time you look for the label and choose Fair Trade Certified products, you play a direct role in empowering farmers, improving livelihoods, and building supply chains that respect both people and the planet. 

Our work isn’t finished, and continues to evolve to meet the needs of farmers around the globe. Every bar of Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate is a step toward safer working conditions, more stable incomes, and supply chains that respect both people and the environment. Explore other Fair Trade Certified chocolate products.