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Date: 24 September 2003

A Kuapa farmer enjoys a bar of Divine Gold. Photo: Day Chocolate Company
'Everyone has to go shopping, Fairtrade is just shopping with respect.' >> view video: the chocolate trail

On 26 September, the Kuapa Kokoo cocoa farmers' cooperative in Ghana celebrates its first ten years of successful fair trading.

The average British person enjoys as much as £50 worth of chocolate a year. Increasing numbers of us are choosing to make sure that cocoa farmers share the pleasure.

Consumers in the UK are buying more fairly traded brands than ever, including Fairtrade Dubble and Divine, made with Ghanaian cocoa from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative.

International prices for cocoa prices fluctuate, so sometimes it can cost farmers more to produce the cocoa than they earn by selling it. Through Fairtrade the farmers are guaranteed a stable price, plus a social premium to invest in the community.

The Kuapa farmers, whose slogan is 'PaPaPaa' - best of the best - will be celebrating their first ten years of fair trading at their annual AGM on 26 September. Nearly 2,000 farmers - two from each of the Kuapa village societies - will gather in Kumasi for two days of meetings, parties and music.

The Fairtrade difference

The Day Chocolate Company, which markets Divine and Dubble in the UK, is one-third owned by Kuapa Kokoo. The success of Divine and Dubble in the UK assures them that their farms have a dependable future.

Since launching the original Divine chocolate bar in 1998 the range has expanded to include Darkly Divine dark chocolate, new flavours, chocolate eggs, coins and Christmas decorations, and crispy Dubble, which sold a bar every 12 seconds in its first year.

As well as fair trade shops, Divine and Dubble chocolate is now widely available in supermarkets and high street shops, so it's easy to join the celebrations. Visit the Divine web site for the full product range and details of stockists.

Kuapa Kokoo's ten years of fair trading is a testament to the long-term viability of the Fairtrade business model. As Managing Director Mr Ohemeng says: 'Everyone has to go shopping, Fairtrade is just shopping with respect.'

Kuapa Kokoo (which means 'good cocoa farmers' in local language Twi) was originally set up in 1993 with the help of British NGO Twin Limited. It has grown since then from 2,000 members in 22 villages to 40,000 members representing 957 village societies. It produces 1 per cent of the world's cocoa.

• Win a month's supply of chocolate
• Visit www.divinechocolate.com