About the cooperative

CONACADO is an association of nearly 10,000 farmers that sell Fairtrade and organic cocoa in the Dominican Republic. Grown under the shade of avocado, citrus and banana trees, nearly half of CONACADO is sold on the Fairtrade market.

Before the formation of CONACADO, cocoa production in the tropical region was fragmented and of low quality. Since becoming Fairtrade certified in 2009, CONACADO has become one of the top three cocoa exporters in the Dominican Republic.

You can support this initiative by purchasing some of our Fairtrade certified drinking chocolate. To read more about Fairtrade and the CONACADO cooperative, visit this link.

• Build five new fermentation centres, eight drying centres and a storage warehouse

• Purchase trucks to transport the beans

• Build bridges and repairs roads

• Renovate and build schools

• Build water wells to provide fresh water for the community

All of these improvements lead to increased productivity, higher quality beans and better income for the families of CONACADO. Who knew drinking Oxfam fair Drinking Chocolate could taste so good and be so amazing! 

(Image supplied by FANZ)

Since becoming a Fairtrade cocoa farmer, Nicolas has been able to upgrade his family’s home and provide his wife and seven children with running water, electricity and a concrete floor, all funded by CONACADO. The previous soil floor exposed his family to disease and insect bites and various health problems.