Source: The Guardian, Tanzania.


US firm chooses Mbeya cocoa beans for its chocolate
By Beatrice Philemon 10th August 2010

Cocoa Beans


Askinosie Chocolate, a US company from Missouri, has chosen Tanzania as origin of its cocoa beans for its chocolate and will source it directly from farmers in an unexpected twist of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) marketing campaigns started earlier this year.

A report issued by the TTB Director of Marketing, Amant Macha, says Doug Pitt, the Goodwill Tanzania’s ambassador in the US arrives in Tanzania this week accompanied by 13 juniors from Springfield’s Central High School who are part of Askinosie Chocolate’s neighbourhood outreach programme called Cocoa Honors.

The guests will be in the country for seven days in a trip which will combine tourism and a search for good chocolate.

Macha says Pitt told him he decided to bring the students along so that they can understand the African cocoa industry. The students’ team comes to Tanzania accompanied by Askinosie Chocolate founder, Shawn Askinosie, who says he wants to start sourcing coco beans directly from farmers.

The Americans will meet UWATE farmers at Tenende in Kyela District and drill deep water wells for domestic use at the village and for irrigation.

The chocolate is to be labeled authentic from single origin, Macha said noting that Askinosie Chocolate is a small batch chocolate manufacturer located in Springfield Missouri, with a tradition of sourcing cocoa beans 100 per cent directly from farmers in different countries of the world.

“As ambassador I’m excited to announce this partnership and I am thankful to Shawn Askinoise and Askinosie Chocolate’s cocoa honours programme for choosing Tanzania as the site for its newest cocoa origin,” Doug Pitt was quoted as telling TTB officials.

Instrumental in Askinosie Chocolate’s selection of Tanzania as its newest source of cocoa beans was Springfield philanthropist Doug Pitt in a partnership that marks one of his first initiatives as Tanzania’s goodwill ambassador.

“The move creates opportunities for Tanzania and its people,” Pit said.

“In addition to meeting the source of their newest cocoa bean farming first–hand, the youths will also be drilling a well which help provide potable water to around 2,000 Tenende citizens, and will distribute samples of processed chocolate to school children. Some of the children have never tasted processed chocolate in their lives, despite the fact that the community produces cocoa beans,” he said.

On the other hand, Shawn Askinosie added that “this event is a taste of what is to come in the future, to do with developing sustainable ventures throughout Tanzania”.

“As a firm, we are excited that we are able to impact future generations and utilise the country’s rich resources combined with enterprising residents to create a winning scenario for all of us,” he is quoted as saying.

“We normally travel to regions of Mexico, Ecuador and Philippines to work directly with farmers and source cocoa beans for his chocolate,” he said.


SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN