Page 6 - December 13, 2017 Magazine Style full issue

BUSINESS

www.villagenewsonline.com
Making a difference with the

cocoa bean

BY LINDA FAUSZ
Steve and Kimberly Taylor make and The newsletters were full of success want to excel at what matters. We value and the lives of others.”
sell chocolate at their retail and wholesale stories of people being freed from brothels our farmers, the environment, and our For more information about the Taylors
manufacturing facility in Chester. Taylor in Asia or brick farms in India, among customers,” Taylor said. “Our farmers work and Taylor Made Chocolate visit www.
Made Chocolate,in the River’s Bend South many other stories from around the world. very hard to provide great cacao that we tmchocolate.com.
The couple rejoiced reading can turn into chocolate. Many times in the
that women, children, and industry, farmers are not paid a fair wage
whole families were being for the beans they have grown. We are
freed from slavery and purchasing our beans in a way to ensure the
human trafficking. However, farmers are paid a fair wage."
they were heart-broken to Over the next few years, the Taylors
know that so much slavery will work directly with their farmers to
existed in the world. There improve their lives. Haiti will be the first
are more people enslaved in country they will work with. “We plan to
the world today than at any work with the farmers to plant a cover crop
other time in world history. and cacao trees," Steve said. "Haiti has been FROM BEAN TO CHOCOLATE
The Taylors began severely deforested, and we can improve
asking themselves, “How the environment by helping with these
can we make more of a reforestation efforts."
difference?” They looked He continued, "Our customers
around the Richmond, area, deserve to enjoy high-quality, great-tasting
which many refer to as the chocolate. Our customers can enjoy our
human trafficking capital of chocolate knowing that their money is being
the East Coast. They began spent in ways that improve the environment
CHOCOLATIERS STEVE AND KIMBERLY TAYLOR ARE to examine this problem
GRADUATES OF ECOLE CHOCOLAT'S PROFESSIONAL and learned of the great
SCHOOL OF CHOCOLATE. need to assist people freed
from human trafficking.
Shopping Center neighboring Sheetz is a Job training was needed to help people
bean-to-bar manufacturer of chocolate bars transition into a normal life. They wanted to
made from imported Haitian cocoa beans. start a manufacturing company that could
The company also sells cacao nibs, with help with this. The idea of starting a bean-
plans to add truffle production in the future. to-bar chocolate factory was born.
“Bean-to-bar chocolate is an emerging They became certified in bean-to-
food trend and is the fastest growing market bar manufacturing, truffle making, and
segment in the multi-billion-dollar US quality assurance. While learning about
chocolate industry.” Steve Taylor said. “The chocolate making, they discovered that
bean-to-bar chocolate industry in 2017 is about 80 percent of all cocoa beans grown
where the coffee market was 10 years ago in the world are grown using slave labor. ‘Tis the Season to GIVE.
and the micro brewery market was five In addition, farmers were not being paid
years ago.” "fair wages" for their cocoa crops. About 95
Graduates of Ecole Chocolat’s percent of the cocoa beans grown around Thanks to our friends, thousands of school children across the
Professional School of Chocolate, the the world are raised on small farms of 3-5 region enjoyed a hands-on learning experience in 2017.
Taylor's say people are choosing bean- acres of land. The Taylors knew they had to
to-bar chocolate for its health benefits, help there as well. They decided to use their Keep History Alive. Educate a Classroom for $175.
but primarily because they see producers cocoa bean supply chain to hinder slavery
as people who source their product in a in the areas from which they buy their Please consider making a tax-deductible donation that will teach
certified fair trade way. cocoa beans. future generations about Virginia’s rich history. Visit Henricus.org to
The Taylors will use the company Taylor Made Chocolate uses only contribute today and ignite a love of history that will last a lifetime.
with the intention of fighting human organic, fair trade certified cocoa beans
trafficking in the Richmond, Virginia area from the country of Haiti. They also use
and indentured servitude in Haiti. They only organic sugar and cocoa butter. Taylor
gained knowledge of the latter after hearing Made Chocolate’s factory store is located HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK
a report from the International Justice at Rivers Bend in Chester at 241 East
Mission during church five years ago. Hundred Road. Their chocolate is available 251 Henricus Park Road • Chester
7
The Taylors soon began supporting the at For the Love of Chocolate in Carytown, (804) 748-1611 • www.henricus.org
6
International Justice Mission with small and they are working with other stores in
monthly donations, which entitled them to the region to stock it.
receive their monthly newsletters. “At Taylor Made Chocolate, we Keep History Alive. Experience Henricus.

06 DECEMBER 13, 2017 news@villagenewsonline.com