|
Peruvian Cacao Competition |
|
|
Our Partners, CACVRA and El Quinacho Receive Recognition for the High Quality of their Cacao Beans
Posted: August 3, 2007
The 1st NATIONAL PERUVIAN CACAO COMPETITION was held during May and June 2007. This event was sponsored by the Peruvian Association of Cacao Producers (APP Cacao) and the Program for Alternative Development, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Peruvian Chamber of Coffee and Cacao, the French NGO VSF – CICDA, and the Swiss company, PRONATEC.
The competition was organized to improve the quality standards and international image of Peruvian cacao. Fourteen producer cooperatives from all over Peru and two private companies participated. A total of 38 samples were received and codified with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Biolatina (a certifying institution), and the INASSA laboratory, that provided use of its space in Lima for the analysis.
The competition was held in two phases. The first phase, held in the city of Lima, involved a physical evaluation of the beans to analyze their moisture content, fermentation level, and number of defects.
During the second phase, held in the city of Juanjuí, the five best samples from phase one underwent a sensory analysis to measure fruity flavors. This analysis identified and gave formal recognition to the flavor profile and quality standards of beans that are produced in the different cacao zones in Peru.
The First National Peruvian Cacao Competition officially ended on June 28th with the top three places going to two producer coops, both of whom supply cacao for Equal Exchange chocolate bars.
The Valle Río Apurimac Agrarian Coffee Cooperative (CACVRA) obtained first and second place with samples from the Naranjal and Villa Virgen sector committees, respectively. The prizes: a drying system sponsored by Romero Trading and a Honda motorcycle provided by SOS FAIM.
Third place was awarded to the El Quinacho Cooperative: travel and lodging at the 2008 BIOFACH Fair in Germany, provided by the Dutch organizations, Rabobank Foundation and the DOEN Foundation.
The Peruvian Association of Cacao Producers, APP CACAO, publicly congratulated CACVRA and the El Quinacho Cooperatives for strengthening their organizations and for the efforts they have made to improve the quality of their cacao.
| 
|
Equal Exchange would also like to congratulate CACVRA and El Quinacho and thank them for their hard work and commitment to producing high quality cacao, and their dedication to improving the quality of life of their members and communities.
Consumers can find Cacvra and El Quinacho's award-winning cacao in Equal Exchange's chocolate bars! |
|
Farmer Partners 
