The Source of Cacao: Haiti

Farmer Bosier and manager Aline stand next to a cocoa tree and smile.

Farmer Bosier and manager Aline stand next to a cocoa tree and smile.

Rebecca stands with two of the teenage boys who live on cocoa farms in Northern Haiti. She is holding a yellow cocoa pod freshly harvested from a nearby tree.

Rebecca stands with two of the teenage boys who live on cocoa farms in Northern Haiti. She is holding a yellow cocoa pod freshly harvested from a nearby tree.

A pile of harvested cocoa pods sits on the ground in front of a wooden shed. A white bucket sits next to the pile. This will be used to collected the cocoa beans and pulp that the farmers sell wet to the PISA company.

A pile of harvested cocoa pods sits on the ground in front of a wooden shed. A white bucket sits next to the pile. This will be used to collected the cocoa beans and pulp that the farmers sell wet to the PISA company.

Green cocoa pods growing directly on the trunk of a cocoa tree on a cocoa farm in Haiti.

Green cocoa pods growing directly on the trunk of a cocoa tree on a cocoa farm in Haiti.

Farmer Sinus discusses his farming techniques while giving a tour on his farm. He is standing next to a cocoa tree.

Farmer Sinus discusses his farming techniques while giving a tour on his farm. He is standing next to a cocoa tree.

PISA worker Chiquito holds a bowl filled with wet cocoa beans and pulp that were recently harvested. He is showing how they measure the cocoa they buy from the farmers.

PISA worker Chiquito holds a bowl filled with wet cocoa beans and pulp that were recently harvested. He is showing how they measure the cocoa they buy from the farmers.

Eleven workers at PISA gather for a photo in the cacao storage area. They smile and hold bars of chocolate that have been made with cacao from PISA.

Eleven workers at PISA gather for a photo in the cacao storage area. They smile and hold bars of chocolate that have been made with cacao from PISA.

The large wooden boxes that hold the wet cacao that is fermented at least 3 days. The boxes are layered like steps.

The large wooden boxes that hold the wet cacao that is fermented at least 3 days. The boxes are layered like steps.

Wet cacao fermenting in the fermentation boxes.

Wet cacao fermenting in the fermentation boxes.

Fermented cacao spread out and now drying in a greenhouse-like building. Aline and Fenise look over the cacao on either side of the drying table.

Fermented cacao spread out and now drying in a greenhouse-like building. Aline and Fenise look over the cacao on either side of the drying table.

View of the northern Haitian countryside. There are many sloping hills covered in green, and fog hangs over the hills.

View of the northern Haitian countryside. There are many sloping hills covered in green, and fog hangs over the hills.

Two 150 pound bags of Haitian PISA cacao in sisal bags.

Two 150 pound bags of Haitian PISA cacao in sisal bags.

Rebecca and Jim smile and stand next to a shipment of cacao on a pallet behind Cultiva Labs. Jim points at the cacao.

Rebecca and Jim smile and stand next to a shipment of cacao on a pallet behind Cultiva Labs. Jim points at the cacao.

Cacao roasting in the cocoa roaster at Cultiva Labs.

Cacao roasting in the cocoa roaster at Cultiva Labs.

The melanger at Cultiva Labs with a heating element on top. The melanger grinds the cocoa, sugar, and cocoa butter into chocolate.

The melanger at Cultiva Labs with a heating element on top. The melanger grinds the cocoa, sugar, and cocoa butter into chocolate.