A new range of chocolate has been launched by the RSPB (the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and buying it, and then eating it, you can help birds and enjoy great chocolate! Seeing the new colourful bars on sale at RSPB Conwy we just had to buy some. Three flavours are available – milk, orange milk and dark – so far we have only tried the milk, though all three are in the fridge for future consumption. The RSPB milk chocolate is excellent; no compromise on flavour here, really milky can very moreish! Ok it is not the cheapest chocolate you buy but then the taste is excellent and you helping birds as you enjoy, that has to be a winning combination. At £1.99 a bar it is not really that expensive and chocolate of this quality is a real treat so go on buy some and as you enjoy think of those birds you are helping, feels good!
We checked out what the RSPB website is saying -
The RSPB is encouraging UK consumers to buy organic, shade-grown chocolate to help endangered birds.
Buy organic, Fairtrade chocolate and your choice could make a big difference to birds, the environment and farm workers in developing countries.
Most cocoa is now produced on large-scale plantations. Rainforests are cut to create clearings and pesticides are applied to ensure the crop is healthy.
Organic cocoa is grown in the traditional way, under the forest canopy and out of direct sunlight. It benefits birds by providing shelter and they then help the crop by eating insect pests, reducing the need for pesticides. Also known as shade-grown cocoa, the beans grown this way are high quality and good for wildlife.
The RSPB’s partner organisation, BirdLife Brazil, is supporting just such bird-friendly methods.
Helping birds
Birds threatened with extinction, such as the Pink-legged Graveteiro and White-winged Cotinga, benefit directly from the shade-grown cocoa areas.
BirdLife’s support to small-scale farmers has protected threatened birds across the Serra das Lontras mountains of north-eastern Brazil, including the Black-headed Berryeater and Bahia Spinetail.
‘The Serra das Lontras is home to an exceptional range of unique wildlife,’ said Jaqueline Goerck, coordinator of BirdLife Brazil. ‘Our project to help small-scale cocoa farmers earn decent incomes and preserve a healthy environment is a winner for all. Not only do the organic, shade-grown cocoa plantations provide direct benefits to endangered birds - they also form buffer zones around remaining swathes of rainforest, protecting those areas from further harm.’
Buy organic
By buying organic shade-grown chocolate, you can support similar projects in the developing world. ‘Many supermarkets stock chocolate and cocoa products with the organic trademark.’ said Alexandra Gonzalez-Calatayud, Trade Policy Officer for the RSPB. ‘Find chocolates with both the organic and Fairtrade labels, then you can rest assured that you are giving producers a fair economic deal, too - supporting people, birds and the environment,’
What is organic?
To qualify for the ‘organic’ trademark cocoa growers:
• must not use dangerous chemicals
• must not clear primary rainforest for new plantations
• are urged to provide refuges for wildlife on their farms.
The organic farmers obtain high prices for the certified cocoa.
What is Fairtrade?
To qualify for the Fairtrade mark, producers must:
• meet standards for treatment of workers in cooperatives or plantations
• meet minimum health and safety standards
• avoid child labour.
Producers receive a price that covers the costs of sustainable production in living, along with a premium that they can invest in development.
See www.rspb.org.uk for more, and you can join on line if you are not already a member.
Enjoy the RSPB chocolate and help birds.