Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) focuses on how farms are managed, covering all aspects of production, such as environmental protection, worker rights, and the welfare and interests of the local community. To get certified under its umbrella, at least 40 percent of the cacao-growing plantation has to be covered in shade at all times. (Learn how this benefits wildlife preservation.)

Note, however, that the RA allows the use of some agrochemicals when pest-related damages would be greater than the farmer could cope with economically. Pesticides that are banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union, however, are prohibited. One caveat: Only a minimum of 30 percent certified content is required for products to display the RA label, although retailers are required to state just how much on their products. ::The Green Guide