DCL
It's T-1 days to Valentine's Day, and The Green Guide has a list of what last-minute lovebirds should look for in their chocolatey expressions of amore. Here's a breakdown:
1. Certified organic:
Chocolates grown with the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers simply don't reek of romance. Choose candy certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Program (the primary organic certifier in the United States), or a USDA-accredited certified (such as Quality Assurance International), to free your love from any toxic taint.
2. Fair trade:
A fair-trade-certified label means that the cacao beans were purchased directly from the growers or a co-op of growers at a price higher than the commodity market rate. Certification also ensures that the price paid per pound of beans never fails below 10 cents more than the current market price, while imposing environmental-protection standards on growers, including a ban on the most hazardous pesticides and the use of sustainable growing practices. Child slavery, folks? Not hot.
