In a Valentine's Day turnaround this year, it was the CEO's of major chocolate companies represented by the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA) who received gifts: bouquets of fair trade certified flowers with a note attached calling on them to make a real commitment to ending child labor on cocoa farms in West Africa, from a group of organizations and chocolate companies who have already made the same commitment.

The following companies, more accustomed to selling Valentine's Day gifts than receiving them, were surprised with bouquets of fair trade certified roses: Archer Daniels Midland, Barry Callebaut, Hershey, Mars, Blommers, Nestle, Cargill, World's Finest Chocolate and Guittard Chocolate Company. The note read, "At Valentines Day, we talk about commitment. Chocolate manufacturers it's time to make a REAL commitment TODAY to 1) END abusive child labor & 2) SIGN Commitment to Ethical Cocoa Sourcing -Commitment Signatories." The "Commitment to Ethical Cocoa Sourcing" is a joint statement signed by almost 60 organizations and chocolate companies outlining steps they agree to take to eliminate harmful labor conditions from their cocoa supply chains. The document is available online: Commitment to Ethical Cocoa Sourcing.

Since the story of child labor, including trafficked and forced labor, on cocoa farms in West Africa broke in 2001, the major chocolate companies represented by the Chocolate Manufacturers Association have not taken appropriate action to stop labor abuses in their supply chains. Most recently, the major chocolate companies have distorted the definition of "certification" which they are required to implement in 50% of their cocoa supply chain by July 2008 under the Harkin-Engel Protocol.

The signatories of the "Commitment to Ethical Cocoa Sourcing" support an alternative approach which includes: providing transparency in cocoa supply chains to the farm level; sourcing from farms and cooperatives which respect core ILO labor standards and pay a price adequate for farmers to meet these standards; paying farmers a fair and adequate price for the cocoa purchased; implement or maintain structural practices to ensure farmers a consistently better price; supporting the drafting and enforcement of laws to stop child labor; and supporting social programs for children. Signatories include chocolate companies pioneering the way to ethical chocolate through Fair Trade, such as Equal Exchange and Sweet Earth, and advocacy organizations including International Labor Rights Forum, Global Exchange, Coop America, and Oasis.

Consumers are encouraged to purchase chocolate from companies which have embraced the "Commitment to Ethical Cocoa Sourcing" this Valentine's Day.

Nearly 2,000 children will be learning about child labor problems in the cocoa industry, and how Fair Trade cocoa provides a solution, in the National Valentine's Day of Action organized by Global Exchange. Originally titled "500 for Fair Trade", aiming to educate 500 elementary school children in a single day, the action is a runaway hit. Elementary school teachers in 27 states nationwide will be teaching Global Exchange's Fair Trade cocoa curriculum.

####