A Trip to Origin: Duarte, DR

A Trip to Origin: Duarte, Dominican Republic - Join Chocotastery and USDA funded Exporting Quality Program, implemented by International Executive Service Corps, as we guide you through a Caribbean chocolate journey to the Dominican Republic! During this trip we will explore the exceptional Caribbean fine flavor cacao grown by small farmers in lush tropical settings kissed by ocean breezes and nurtured by rich, natural soils in the Duarte Province. We will meet the owners of cacao producer, Öko Caribe, Adriano de Jesus Rodriguez and Gualberto Acebey Torrejon and will then discover the diversity of flavors and be guided through a chocolate tasting of craft chocolate bars from Dominican Republic Craft Chocolate Makers: Definite Chocolate, Khao Caribe, Chin Chin Chocolate and Choco Punto. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Öko Caribe organization to support the 165 farmers and their families. Owners Adriano and Gualberto have personal relationships with all of the farmers they work with, offering them microfinance loans for cacao-related expenses, as well as personal loans for family emergencies or other community needs. We also created a YouTube Video to showcase Oko Caribe's work in the Duarte region in the Dominican Republic at the end of the event.