Hershey's Hearsay Changes Chocolate?

So this happened:

Hershey to Source 100% Certified Cocoa by 2020  October 3rd, 2012

The Hershey Company ... today said it will source 100 percent certified cocoa for its global chocolate product lines by 2020 and accelerate its programs to help eliminate child labor in the cocoa regions of West Africa.

In a beautifully crafted press release/news article ready for regurgitation, Hershey Company announced they would be using 100% Certified cacao by 2020. Certified by whom, or by what exact criteria, is less obvious. Apparently, Hershey will be doing the certification of their own cocoa and independent auditors will be verifying their compliance. Here is the second paragraph:

Certified cocoa will be verified through independent auditors to assure that it is grown in line with the highest internationally recognized standards for labor, environmental and better farming practices. As Hershey increases its use of certified cocoa, the company will also continue to support community-based programs with local African partners, national governments and development agencies. These projects include village school construction, mobile phone farmer messaging, literacy and health programs and training in modern farming techniques.

I've worked for a few companies that have used self-certification before, but never for a company this large with an impact so big. I would assume most people would agree that if a company does their own certification, then the record of the audit done by independent agencies would be available for public scrutiny. So can a company certify itself? And, if so, are the audits public? And if we are strictly defining "highest internationally recognized standards", we must certainly be using the Demeter Biodynamic Certification, which has the "highest internationally recognized standards" for agriculture, right? Pacari, in Ecuador, was the first Demeter Certified cocoa farm. Is Hershey joining them?

If they are using other companies to certify their cacao, and I was mistaken, which companies are they and what are their standards? Are the auditors "verifying" the certification and not "certifying" the conditions themselves?

I love that they are trying to help stop child labor in West Africa, but where was this announcement after the signing of the Harken-Engel Protocol in 2001? A document signed out of fear that we may have created a law forcing them to comply? And since we may or may not have access to the audit, are we supposed to trust their word that they are now taking action to spend money to increase their labor costs and increase the price of cacao? Isn't that hearsay?

The fundamental problem with sustainability is the inability to replace the resources available. For example, the average life expectancy for a man in Ghana is 55-60 years old. The average age of a cocoa farmer in Ghana is 55 years old. If anything, it would seem that Ghana would need another, younger, generation to replace the current. There have been problems in the industry since the realization that the slave trade was horrible and the colonization of Africa exploited and took advantage of the indigenous people. Fairtrade USA and Fairtrade International was a  significant step in the right direction, but has yet to dramatically change the system as much as it needs to change.

So what needs to be done? Several things, but first is to take cocoa off the commodities market. Add to that the largest components of a Hershey products, sugar and corn. Commodities that are too easily susceptible to industrial espionage, political upheaval, and weather damage should not be traded, hedged, or put upon. Each and every increase or decrease can mean food on a plate or not for several thousands of people. It's easy to change a smaller market industry like chocolate. But when sugar and high fructose corn syrup are involved, are we paying the real price of the product we are trading on the exchange? And would a price correction put money in the pockets of the wrong people? Where in here to do I reference the class action lawsuit alleging price fixing and collusion of the chocolate prices ABOVE the price they should be at? I've had no response for comment from the lawyers representing the plaintiffs.

This is the perfect opportunity to contact the largest cocoa manufacturers and tell them exactly what you want from your chocolate. This is the very first year of the World Cocoa Conference, a gathering of the largest cocoa industry companies. Delegates from around the chocolate industry will be able to voice their opinions and concerns with the current practices. Each of the largest brands will be present and they will be signing a declaration at the end of it saying something, except for, you guessed it, Hershey's. Other major makers are missing, too, but you can start to see how political these issues can get. Who knows how much the WCC can do? Maybe nothing!

You have until November 19th of 2012 to send these companies your input!

Hershey Company
Nestle
Mars (M&M's, Snickers)
ADM
Cargill
Kraft (AKA Modelez)

Don't let them determine the future of chocolate without a solid dose of public opinion!

-Conrad Miller, TheCacaoist.com