Feccano | Valrhona

Haiti

Plaine du Nord, Cap Haïtien
19°40’15.6”N
72°16’30.1”W

Cocoa growing in Haiti

The economic history of cocoa in Cape Haitien is a winding tale of successes and setbacks, buffeted by price fluctuations on the world market and periods of political unrest. However, the people of the region persevered, and today Haitian cocoa is renowned for its exceptional quality.

Pioneer of high-quality cocoa in Haiti

FECCANO (“La Fédération des coopératives cacaoyères du Nord”) is a federation composed of 8 member cooperatives, created in 2002 under the impetus of different initiatives and local NGOs. Since the beginning, FECCANO's ambition has been to ensure Haitian cocoa is valued at its fair worth. For decades, the area's (and country's) cocoa was not fermented and sold at low prices to a network of intermediaries, thus positioning producers as simply poorly paid suppliers of raw materials. In 2007, FECCANO teamed up with French NGO AVSF to start fermenting its beans in an effort to increase the value of its cocoa. In doing so, FECCANO became the pioneer of high quality in cocoa in Haiti.

A long-term partnership

Propelled by this rich history, Valrhona and FECCANO met in 2011. Our exchanges led to the signature of a five-year partnership in 2015 which will enable us to support these pioneering producers and promote the sustainability and value of Haitian cocoa. In 2020, this partnership was renewed for 10 years.