Shade Grown
Our cocoa is shade grown, an ecologically superior method in which the cocoa thrives under a canopy of trees that provides a winter refuge in the rainforest for migratory birds.
Rainforests are one of the greatest areas of biodiversity on Earth, but they are being destroyed at a shockingly rapid pace. Harmful “slash and burn” agricultural methods—one of the primary causes of deforestation—release a tremendous amount of carbon into the atmosphere, displace farmers and their families, and negatively impact the delicate winter habitat of migratory birds.
Studies have shown that shade grown cocoa groves, which use intercropping techniques and are cultivated in the shade of the rainforest canopy, offer an alternative winter home for songbirds and harbor nearly as much biological diversity as the natural rainforest. Vireos, swallows, thrushes and warblers are in the north for only a short time in the summer to breed; they then go back to their winter homes in the tropics. Shade grown cocoa groves help to extend the buffer zones around the remaining areas of pristine rainforest, providing the essential winter habitat for these birds.
In addition to supporting environmental sustainability, the use of shade grown cocoa also promotes social responsibility. It helps provide livable wages to farmers who have been using these traditional, sustainable techniques for generations, and has a significant impact for their families.
Robin’s is a strong supporter of National Wildlife Federation, which works to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future; and Sustainable Harvest International, which facilitates collaboration to implement sustainable land-use practices that alleviate poverty by restoring ecological stability.
Photo courtesy of Sustainable Harvest International.