An important step toward a world of fairness and solidarity

An important cooperation agreement has been signed by Eurochocolate and Fairtrade-TransFair Italia, the not-for-profit consortium made up of organizations that operate in international cooperation, solidarity, and fair trade founded in 1994 for the dissemination of fair-market products in the large-scale retail sector, and which will offer its contribution to the thirteenth edition of the event that will be held in Perugia from 14th through 22nd October 2006.

This is an indisputable success for Eurochocolate which this year, after the patronage of important world organizations such as the ICCO (International Cocoa Organization) for Eurochocolate World, will also be able to count on the collaboration of the consortium that protects the Fair Trade hallmark worldwide.

In fact, within the framework of its thirteenth edition, Eurochocolate will feature Equochocolate, an exhibition and sales area devoted exclusively to the marketing of chocolate coming from certified fair trade shops all over the world, which will also be accompanied by moments of analysis that will feature the participation of cocoa producers, processors, and distributors, all under the banner of FairTrade-TransFair Italia.

“We believe that the collaboration with Eurochocolate,” says Paolo Pastore, National Fairtrade TransFair Italia Coordinator, “is very important for awakening public opinion to the situation in which cocoa producers work, and to open new outlets to fair trade conditions. The producers themselves are requesting it, in order to improve the lives of their families and the communities of the world’s south.”

The absolute protagonist of the area is a new type of trowel, the symbol-icon of this thirteenth edition: a transparent trowel, to represent the concepts of fair trade, which will be combined with a triangular bar of fair-trade chocolate.

10 excellent chocolatiers of the best Italian chocolate-making tradition (5 CNA Alimentare members and 5 Confartigianato Alimentazione members) will produce the new triangular fair-trade bar: a handmade product of extremely high quality, customized according to the tastes and experience of the single chocolatiers, and which will make possible a creative and homogeneous interpretation of the project in line with the event’s theme, at the same time sharing the ethical-moral aspects of the whole operation.

“As CNA Alimentare we joined the fair-trade chocolate project with great conviction,” said Daniela Piccione, National Head of CNA Alimentare Nazionale, “because we feel that in this sector it is necessary to start launching visible “corporate social responsibility” actions. Today we are starting with an initial group of handmade confectionary enterprises, which we will work to make more numerous. Secondly, we wanted to send a strong message that even “high quality” is compatible with fair trade criteria. It is for this reason that we requested the commitment of producers of excellent chocolate in the project.”

Silvio Bessone, Chairman of Cioccolatieri Confartigianato Alimentazione, adds that, “For an artisan, thinking “fair trade” comes almost naturally. The direct and daily contact with the raw material, with the products of the earth, means that this project will be able to move beyond the boundaries the relationship that has turned many artisans into representatives of the territory. The synergy among Confartigianato, CNA, Eurochocolate, and Transfair makes it possible to arrive where the single artisan could never arrive by himself. If the public institutions were to offer their commitment and contribution also, easing the way that must be travelled, the circle could be closed, taking that spontaneous smile that appears when tasting a good bar of PURE CHOCOLATE truly far.”

But what, exactly, is fair trade?

Fair trade is a commercial partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, which seeks greater fairness in international trade. It contributes to a sustainable development, offering better trade conditions and ensuring the rights of producers and disadvantaged workers, especially in the world’s south.

The Fairtrade organizations, in collaboration with consumers, are actively involved in supporting the producers and in the awareness-raising campaigns for changing the rules and practices of conventional international trade.

“The collaboration with Fairtrade TransFair Italia,” says Eugenio Guarducci, Eurochocolate Chairman, “means for us participating actively in the achievement of greater fairness in the international cocoa trade.”