Stock up on Chocolate Chips at the Mission Market!

Stop by the Mission Market now for the best prices on delicious chocolate chips! A big price increase is coming for chocolate chips. Currently bags of semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate chips sell for $5.50. Once this supply is gone, new bags will be $7.50 each. Why?

 Cacao prices world-wide have seen significant fluctuations, coming down only slightly from earlier this year. West Africa, which produces about 75% of the world's cocoa, has been severely affected by climate change leading to reduced yields. Crop diseases, loss of trees and supply chain disruptions have exacerbated the cacao shortage. Diminished global supply results in higher prices for all chocolate products.

Although chocolate from Equal Exchange comes primarily from Peru, Panama and the Dominican Republic, it is not exempt from price increases. Fair trade, organic chocolate will always be higher in price than conventional chocolate from the grocery store. Equal Exchange chocolate chips are made only from organic cacao from Peru and organic sugar from Paraguay, both grown by small farmer co-ops. They’re manufactured in an allergen-free facility right in Peru. That means a greater percentage of the purchase price stays in the origin country, strengthening the local economy. A fair trade premium paid by EE to the co-ops provides additional resources to support sustainable farming to combat the effects of climate change.

Thanks for supporting the Mission Market!

The Mission Market is located on the second floor of First Presbyterian, near the Commons area, James Park Classroom, and the Fellowship Hall. You can shop on Sundays from 9:30-10:50 a.m., or other days by appointment. Contact: Colleen Shannon, bakhom@earthlink.net