French Exchange: Cacao, Culture, and Connection

French Exchange is a public affairs discussion series that aims to bring Vermont and the Francophone world into dialogue.

Hosted by AFLCR instructor Eric Agnero, the series uses language, culture and conversation to make French-speaking people who live thousands of miles apart feel a little less distant.

In this episode, we’ll talk about chocolate production in Côte d’Ivoire, a Francophone country in West Africa, where most of the world’s cacao is produced, mostly by small farmers and communities using traditional methods.

But cacao production faces challenges, especially in forest loss, low pay, and even child labor. Ben & Jerry’s is among the Western chocolate purveyors that is committed to sourcing cacao in terms of values.

In this episode of French Exchange, Cheryl Pinto of B&J’s will discuss how the company fulfills that goal.

We’ll film this episode at the Media Factory, 208 Flynn Avenue, on Friday, August 14, at 6pm.  We have space for a live audience of about six. If you’d like to join us, it’s free—but please register in advance on this page.

If you can’t join us in person, the episode will be available on Media Factory’s local access “Create” channel BTV 15 & 215, Comcast 1074.

Soon thereafter you'll be able to watch it on on the YouTube channels of its sponsors: the AFLCR and Global South Watch.