You'll Never Buy Regular Chocolate Brands Again After Trying These Fair-Trade Picks

It's no mystery that chocolate is a universally beloved treat, but consumers might not fully understand how exactly chocolate gets from farm to factory. The dark side of the chocolate industry is that cocoa production worldwide is rife with unfair labor practices, child-labor exploitation, and unsustainable farming practices. Luckily, there have been massive recent initiatives among chocolate brands to clean up the cocoa industry through the World Fair Trade Organization.

Chocolate brands given a Fair Trade label means that their chocolate isn’t sprayed with environmentally harmful chemicals, that it has been carefully audited to meet fair trade terms and price standards, and that it helps improve the communities from which the cacao plants are harvested. A newly released retailer scorecard even rates grocery stores on social responsibility and sustainability in the cocoa supply chain.

So, this Valentine's Day, be a bit more choosey when it comes to the chocolate you purchase for your loved ones. The below Fair Trade chocolate picks are treats you can feel good about enjoying. Plus, you'll be doing your part to play a role in equalizing the playing field for farmers in the cacao industry and helping to build a brighter, more sustainable future.