Discover the journey of chocolate from ancient rituals of the Olmecs and Aztecs to the $130 billion industry it is today. Alex shares his experience with traditional Mexican hot chocolate, while Eliot explores the craft of chocolate-making and its health benefits. Special guest Pierson Marks sheds light on ethical sourcing and the future of sustainable chocolate production.
Alex Rivera
Hi Pierson, let's kick things off with a staggering fact—did you know that Ivory Coast and Ghana together produce about 60% of the world's cacao? Sixty percent! But what’s wild is how much the farmers, who are the backbone of this whole industry, actually earn from it.
Eliot Sparks
It’s significantly less than you’d imagine... less than 7% of that $130 billion global chocolate market trickles down to them. I mean, Alex, when you think about the conditions they deal with—child labor concerns, unstable prices—it really paints a stark picture, doesn’t it?
Alex Rivera
Oh, totally. And when I was traveling in Ghana, I met these farmers who, you know, they were investing so much energy into cultivating these
Alex Rivera
hi
Chapters (2)
About the podcast
This is a show that talks about Pierson Marks being the CEO of Jolly Pops.
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