Founded in 1985, CONACADO (Confederación nacional de cacaocultores dominicanos) is today one of the biggest producer and exporting organizations in the country, and has over 10,000 members. The cooperative works to create a modern, internationally renowned cocoa sector that improves producers' incomes and allows their families to achieve a decent standard of living. It does this by focusing on producing high-quality cocoa and on sustainable farm management, coupled with support for community development and environmental protection.
CONACADO's numerous certifications - including Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Fairtrade and Organic (USDA and EU) – are a testament to this commitment. The cooperative's vision, history and respected position in the Dominican make it a partner of choice for Valrhona.
In 2022, in partnership with CONACADO, Valrhona funded a project to map the plots of 243 producers who deliver cocoa to Valrhona. Once this work has been finalized, we will be able to state with confidence that our cocoa doesn’t come from protected areas.