Why Was This Campaign Started?

Many African cocoa farmers are living on the brink of debt and starvation. In addition, the US State Department, the ILO, and UNICEF have recently reported child slavery on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast, the origin on 43% of the world's cocoa. This is because global cocoa prices have been cut in half over the last 10 years, leaving cocoa farmers without enough to meet their own needs or pay their workers adequately. In 2001, a large group of US chocolate and candy companies and non-governmental organizations, including M&M/Mars, signed a Protocol and Joint Statement to end abusive child labor and forced labor on cocoa farms (see www.candyusa.org). While this is a positive step, the Protocol and Joint Statement leave poverty untouched and make continued slavery a possibility because they don't insure fair wages for adult workers.

What is the Goal of this Campaign?

The goal of this campaign is to get US chocolate companies to sell chocolate products that are certified as Fair Trade by TransFair USA. Fair Trade solves the problems of poverty and slavery by guaranteeing cocoa farmers $.80 per pound AND requiring adherence to ILO conventions on child labor and forced labor. Fair Trade Certified chocolate products have been widely available in Europe for years. There is clearly a sufficient supply of Fair Trade cocoa for the US chocolate industry given that Fair Trade cooperatives produced a total of 89 million pounds of cocoa in 2001, but sold only 3 million at Fair Trade prices.

Why is M&M/Mars the Focus of this Campaign?

We chose M&M/Mars because they are one of the largest US chocolate companies and have a strong hold in the international chocolate market. M&M's are their major product -- more than 400 million are made daily. M&M/Mars certainly has the resources to support the Fair Trade alternative. They are the 4th largest private company in the US and their 3 owners, the Mars siblings, are worth a combined 31.2 billion. M&Ms are the world's largest selling brand, with sales of over $97.3 million from 2001-02.

Is This a Boycott?

No. We are not advocating a boycott, but want this to be a day for educating customers and getting them to urge M&M/Mars to do the right thing and support Fair Trade. For those who want to buy Fair Trade chocolate, the "Fair Trade Certified" logo and the "Fairtrade Mark" denote independent Fair Trade Certification. For a listing of retailers that offer Fair Trade chocolate and cocoa, click here

Facts About the Cocoa Industry, M&M/Mars, and Fair Trade

Crisis on Cocoa Farms!

• Many African cocoa farmers are living on the brink of debt and starvation.
• The US State Department, the ILO, and UNICEF have recently reported child slavery on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast, the origin on 43% of the world's cocoa.

The Role of the US Chocolate Industry

• In 2000, Americans ate about 3.3 billion pounds of chocolate and spent $13.7 billion on it.
• The price of cocoa beans has halved in the last 10 years, leaving cocoa farmers unable to meet their own needs or pay their workers adequately. The cost of a chocolate bar has doubled over this time, meaning that big companies are profiting while farmers struggle.
• Though many US chocolate companies, including M&M/Mars, have signed an agreement to work towards ending child slavery, these plans leave poverty untouched and make continued slavery a possibility because they don't insure fair wages for adult workers.
• Mars is one of the largest American chocolate companies and a leader in the global chocolate industry. They are the 4th largest private company in the US and their 3 owners are worth a combined $31.2 billion (Forbes, 2003). Surely they can afford Fair Trade!

The Fair Trade System

• The Fair Trade cocoa system guarantees farmers $.80 per pound, insuring that child slavery and poverty will not be a part of life for cocoa farmers.
• Fair Trade cocoa comes from Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, and Mexico.
• In 2001, Fair Trade cooperatives in these countries produced 89 million pounds of cocoa, but sold only 3 million at Fair Trade prices.
• Fair Trade Certified cocoa and chocolate are widely available in Europe and Canada. In the US they can be purchased in some grocery stores, Fair Trade shops, and on the Internet.
• TransFairUSA, an independent organization that currently certifies coffee a tea as Fair Trade in the USA, is now certifying US chocolate companies.