About the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund

The HCP’s mission is to “discover, identify and preserve fine flavor (“heirloom”) cacao varieties for the conservation of biological diversity and the empowerment of farming communities”.

Launched in 2012 in partnership with the USDA and the Fine Chocolate Industry Association **, the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP) formed in response to the global pressures of environmental change, deforestation, and economic influences threatening the world’s supply of high quality, flavorful cacao. Recognizing these endangered cacao trees are the foundation for not only delicious chocolate, but also the livelihood of many farmers and farming communities, the HCP is the first initiative to identify and map the world’s finest cacao and designate growers of these endangered trees.

As a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization, the HCP is committed to improving the lives of cacao farmers and their families, and is working to protect the threatened world’s supply of high quality, flavorful chocolate. We encourage ethical cacao farming practices and actively support farmers at origin.

The preservation of the finest chocolate is all about cacao sustainability. Ensuring the survival of exceptional cacao bio-diversity safeguards the future of the industry, and assists with economic, social, and environmental benefits to farmers and their communities.

We are proud to be guided by the following values:

Planet: Heirloom cacaos often grow within agroforestry environments, inter-cropped with abundant diversity, naturally helping to ensure chocolate sustainability. Preserving these unique species reflects our larger commitment to biodiversity protection and ensuring future generations can enjoy great tasting chocolate. Heirloom cacaos often grow within agroforestry environments, inter-cropped with abundant diversity, naturally helping to ensure chocolate sustainability. Preserving these unique species reflects our larger commitment to biodiversity protection and ensuring future generations can enjoy great tasting chocolate.

Prosperity; Thanks to discerning consumers, heirloom chocolate flourishes well above commodity prices so more revenue flows back to the source of the cacao – the farmers. Thanks to discerning consumers, heirloom chocolate flourishes well above commodity prices so more revenue flows back to the source of the cacao – the farmers.

People: Heirloom chocolate connects people all the way from the source in the tropics to the stores in town. It goes from gene-to-bar and unwraps the possibilities for the millions of people worldwide who believe life without the very best chocolate is no life at all. Heirloom chocolate connects people all the way from the source in the tropics to the stores in town. It goes from gene-to-bar and unwraps the possibilities for the millions of people worldwide who believe life without the very best chocolate is no life at all.

**”The FCIA supports the fine chocolate segment of the chocolate industry by educating and promoting the fine chocolate professional focused on producing superior products made from premium chocolate and natural ingredients across the value chain from the cacao farmer to chocolate maker to chocolatier and pastry chef.”