First Brazilian Cocoa Farmers Become UTZ Certified

ILHEUS, BrazilAs part of the Cargill Cocoa Promise, four cocoa producers in the state of Bahia have become the first Brazilian cocoa farmers to become UTZ Certified. An additional 12 cocoa farms are scheduled to be certified by May 2014, representing about 1,000 metric tons of UTZ Certified cocoa beans.

"The UTZ Certified initiative recognizes and rewards the efforts necessary to implement and enhance production processes. By encouraging these practices we reap good fruit, both in respect to cocoa beans as well as the quality of life of farmers, rural workers and the environment. This initiative is aligned with a growing demand from our customers for more sustainable products," said Rodrigo Melo, origination manager, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate Brazil.

In October 2012, the Cargill plant in Ilheus, Bahia, became Brazil's first cocoa processor to become UTZ Certified.

The Cargill Cocoa Promise is the company's global commitment to the development of a sustainable cocoa supply chain and to making a difference in three key areasimproving the lives of cocoa farmers, supporting cocoa farming communities, and investing in the future of cocoa farming. The Cargill Cocoa Promise works together in partnerships with NGO's and other local partners in cocoa growing countries. Its long-term approach for a sustainable supply chain uses certification and labels, such as UTZ Certified as an enabler to help raise standards and to provide farmers with financial incentives.