High Prices For Producers
My cacao purchase price is set by the Nueva Esperanza Organic Cooperative, and this price does not change despite large (and frequent) price fluctuations on the global commodity cacao market.
Héctor, Yamile and Franciso (president of Nueva Esperanza) discussing heirloom cacao during our first visit to Hector’s farm in Esmeraladas in March 2020.
In addition to pure cacao, I also import beautiful bars made by the Nueva Esperanza Cooperative and their chocolatier & graphic designer, Daniel Noboa. Profit margins are higher on finished products, ensuring that the farmers and their cooperative share fairly in the success of their products.
Three types of dark chocolate bars made with heirloom cacao grown on Nueva Esperanza farms, in beautiful packages designed by Daniel Noboa.
Shade grown cacao is a source of local, organic, free produce
The many kinds of trees and herbaceous plants grown on diversified shade-grown cacao farms provides a source of year-round (and delicious!) food crops for farmers and surrounding communities.
A small selection of some of the other food crops grown at Sueños, or at other nearby farms. Pictured here are cacao, zapallo (pumpkin), passionfruit, yuca, beans, peanuts, chilis, tamarillo, garlic, several species of tomato, several varieties of chili, many varieties of potatoes, papa del aire, oca, and noni.
Another small selection of some on-farm deliciousness. Lemongrass, starfruit, turmeric, ginger, limes, lemons, orange, lychee, mangosteen, and coconut.
Many more herbs, fruits, vegetables and tubers are available at other times of the year.
Surplus produce from Sueños (in this photo, sugar cane, starfruit, ginger, turmeric, and plantains) are traded with other farms for their excess produce.
Read a recent interview of Nueva Esperanza members for the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Project
The name 'Nueva Esperanza' (new hope) embodies the commitment of all the association's farmers to cultivating rare heirloom cacao varieties using agro-ecological methods that are compatible with improving small farmer health and economic security, while also protecting the local environment.
Photo credit: https://www.hcpcacao.org/hcp-in-action/archives/06-2020
Artisanal Production Methods
The chocolate tree (Theobroma cacao) is native to Ecuador, and cacao has been enjoyed there for thousands of years. Sueños practices and teaches small-batch artisanal methods for cacao cultivation, fermenting, roasting, winnowing, bar shaping, and most important of all - eating and drinking!
The artisanal cacao processing area at Finca Sueños
Yamile processing her Nacional heirloom cacao at Finca Sueños using traditional wooden molds
Yamile processing her Nacional heirloom cacao at Finca Sueños using traditional wooden molds
Yamile teaching me how to shape bars with wooden molds
Handmade, organic 100% Nacional cacao bars from Finca Sueños
Handmade, organic 100% Nacional cacao bars from Finca Sueños
Clay pots where cacao beans are carefully roasted by hand
Clay pots where cacao beans are carefully roasted by hand
Roasting cacao beans in small batches, by hand, using clay pots
Isabel Armijos teaching truffle making at Finca Sueños
Grinding freshly-roasted cacao beans at Sueños
Grinding freshly-roasted cacao beans at Sueños
The small-batch bean grinder at Sueños
Freshly ground heirloom cacao
Organic Cacao Grower Networks
Supporting the Nueva Esperanza Cooperative strengthens the community of farmers committed to growing heirloom cacao with organic, regenerative methods. Sales of Sueños Artisanal Chocolate in Boston recently sponsored a 2-day symposium for farmers growing heirloom cacao at Sueños headquarters in Puerto Quito. This event included discussions of organic cultivation methods, trading rare tree and seed varieties for propagation at other member farms, and delicious meals. Sueños is also part of an extensive trading network of organic farmers across Ecuador that keep in touch via trading each other’s products with areas where other crops are grown. These events strengthen the economic and community support network between organic growers.
