Cocoatown Colombia

𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.

Employees are not just here to complete tasks. They are people with families, dreams, responsibilities, challenges, and lives beyond the workplace.

As employers, we ask our employees to care about the mission, vision, customers, and daily work of the company. That care becomes stronger when employees also know that they are cared about as people.

Taking the time to understand who they are, not just what they do, can create a culture of trust, respect, and shared commitment.

Supporting employees means listening, being present, recognizing their work, and caring about them as people.

When people care about the work and care about each other, they help build a stronger future together.

Share one way your workplace supports its team.

CocoaTown

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿

The cacao and chocolate industry has a deeper story to tell, and women have always been part of it.

Join 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 for an 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 with cacao educators and Women of Cacao founders Ava J. Holmes and Fiorella Richter.

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Women of Cacao: Cultural History, Leadership & the Future of Chocolate
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: Ava J. Holmes & Fiorella Richter
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Saturday, May 30, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10 am – 12 Noon Atlanta Time
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Virtual

Explore women’s historical and modern leadership across cacao farming, chocolate making, science, education, ceremony, and the global cacao value chain.

Register now: https://form.jotform.com/260924250699162

Read more: https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/women-in-chocolate-past-present-future

CocoaTown

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Every step matters. Progress may feel slow, but each effort brings you closer to your goal. Stay focused, stay patient, and trust the work you are doing today.

Tag someone who needs this reminder today.

CocoaTown

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗮 𝗝. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗺𝗲𝘀

Join CocoaTown for an upcoming 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 featuring Fiorella Richter and Ava J. Holmes, co-founders of 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼.

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Women of Cacao: Cultural History, Leadership & the Future of Chocolate
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Saturday, May 30, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10 AM – 12 Noon Atlanta Time
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Virtual

𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 is the founder of Women of Cacao and General Manager of 𝗞𝗮𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼, a Peru-based company working with native cacao varieties and origin-centered cacao experiences. Her work connects 𝗰𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, and regenerative cacao value chains.

𝗔𝘃𝗮 𝗝. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗺𝗲𝘀 is a serial entrepreneur whose work blends 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, and social ventureship. She co-founded Women of Cacao and 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, an educational center and research hub in the lower Amazon focused on wild cacao strains, medicinal plants, and regenerative agroforestry.

Together, Fiorella and Ava will lead a thoughtful conversation on 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻, and the future of Women of Cacao.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
https://form.jotform.com/260924250699162

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗮:
https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/meet-the-presenters-women-of-cacao

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿:
https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/women-in-chocolate-past-present-future

CocoaTown

The story of chocolate is also the story of women.

Across generations, women have helped shape cacao through cultivation, preparation, ritual, culture, leadership, education, science, chocolate making, and community building. Yet many of these contributions have been overlooked or underrepresented in the wider history of cacao and chocolate.

Join 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 for 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼: 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, presented by cacao educators and Women of Cacao founders Ava J. Holmes and Fiorella Richter.

This 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 will explore women’s roles in cacao history, Peru’s unique cultural connection between cacao and women, where women are leading today, and how Women of Cacao is building a global, bilingual network for collaboration, education, and leadership.

You will also learn how to participate in the Women of Cacao Summit 2026 as a speaker, local host, or attendee.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Women of Cacao: Cultural History, Leadership & the Future of Chocolate
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: Ava J. Holmes & Fiorella Richter
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Saturday, May 30, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10 am – 12 Noon Atlanta Time
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Virtual

This webinar is more than a history lesson. It is an invitation to see the cacao and chocolate industry through a wider lens and help shape what comes next.

Read more:https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/women-in-chocolate-past-present-future

Register now: https://form.jotform.com/260924250699162

CocoaTown

Time for another wrapper role call! Show us what you got.

Your wrapper tells a story, a unique tale of your creativity, imagination, and personal style. It's more than just a cover; it's an art form that captures attention, sparks intrigue, and leaves a lasting impression.

What story does your wrapper tell? What inspired your design?

Share a picture and answer these questions in the comments.

Don't forget to add your @ so we can all stop by your page to give a like, share or follow. It's one way we can all support each other.

Pictured is a wrapper from , cacao et chocolat. Don't you just love the playful nature of the design.

CocoaTown

Thank you Bakers World Indonesia for this great video of the CocoaT Bean Cutter!

CocoaTown

🤎 #beantobarchocolate makers, ayo merapat! 👏🏻 ⁉️ Tahukah kamu kalau biji cacao yang sudah di roasted juga perlu di belah dua dahulu sebelum di crack? 💁🏻‍♀️ Hal ini bertujuan agar jamur dalam biji kakao yang kemungkinan muncul akibat proses fermentasi atau pengeringan bisa Anda deteksi lebih awal, sehingga Anda dapat men-sortir atau memilah biji terbaik untuk di proses. 💁🏻‍♀️ Bagian dalam biji kakao yang tidak baik biasanya terlihat berwarna abu-abu atau kehijauan. Yang sempurna untuk diolah adalah berwarna cokelat tua seperti pada video ini. ✨ Jadi, jangan lewatkan step ini jika ingin cokelat bean-to-bar menghasilkan kualitas terbaik 📩 Kirim DM untuk pemesanan dan info lebih lanjut.

𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿.

For many of us, Mother’s Day is one of the busiest times of the year. After the rush, it is easy to move straight into the next holiday, the next batch, and the next order.

But this is also the right time to pause.

Check your machines. Clean, inspect, adjust, and complete the maintenance that keeps production running smoothly. A small repair now can help prevent a larger problem when demand picks up again.

Also remember to check on your team and yourself. Long hours, tight deadlines, and seasonal pressure can wear down people just like they wear down equipment.

What kind of maintenance do you need right now to keep going strong?

More rest? Better systems? Equipment support? Team recovery time? A fresh plan for the next chocolate holiday?

Taking care of your machines matters. Taking care of the people behind the chocolate matters too.

Share your answer in the comments. Your response may help someone else to keep going.

CocoaTown

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝘄 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

For cocoa farmers and makers a like, value-added production can create opportunities beyond selling raw beans.

With the right tools and training, farmers, cooperatives, and small businesses can explore products such as:

Roasted cocoa nibs
Couverture
Nut butters
Seed butter
Tahini
Specialty spreads

Each product creates a new way to use ingredients, test markets, and better understand what customers want.

Value-added production is not only about making more products. It is about giving farmers and food entrepreneurs more options, more knowledge, and more control over their growth.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁?

Tell us in the comments or tag us in your post about value-added products you create. We would love to hear what farmers, makers, and food entrepreneurs are creating or planning to create.

Photo by Princesia on Unsplash

CocoaTown