Sustainable chocolate?!

PSU’s Institute for Sustainable Solutions to hold a fair trade chocolate tasting

In love with chocolate? You’re in good company.

On Wednesday, Portland State’s Institute for Sustainable Solutions will give you an opportunity to learn a little more about the cacao bean. The institute has partnered with the Kallari Cooperative, a farmers cooperative based in the Amazon, to present a discussion about its work with sustainably harvested cocoa.

PSU’s Institute for Sustainable Solutions to hold a fair trade chocolate tasting

In love with chocolate? You’re in good company.

On Wednesday, Portland State’s Institute for Sustainable Solutions will give you an opportunity to learn a little more about the cacao bean. The institute has partnered with the Kallari Cooperative, a farmers cooperative based in the Amazon, to present a discussion about its work with sustainably harvested cocoa.

Kallari Cooperative delegate Leonor Cayapa will provide a blind tasting of dark chocolate that includes a variety of fair trade choices. She will also give information on regional differences in taste. Tasters will even get to sample cocoa butter and the cacao itself.

Marissa Matsler from Portland State’s Urban Studies doctoral program and her colleague Judy Logback will facilitate the event.

Logback currently works with the Kallari Cooperative in Ecuador. Matsler studies water treatment and works with Kallari by looking at aspects of water treatment within their facilities.

“It’s really impressive how the Cooperative worked, getting all the families together, at the beginning, so they all have a stake in the process,” Matsler said.

The “Sustainable Chocolate” discussion will take place from 3:45–5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 on the fifth floor of the Market Center Building. The event is free, but space is limited, so be sure to visit PSU’s events page to learn how to secure a spot.