FRIENDS, please welcome Sophia Japhet to our website! An expert in non-profits and community agriculture, Sophia has suddenly found herself thrust into the great wide world of cacao and chocolate. Journey with her as she lives learns, and blogs her travels and explorations! –Rich
A chocolatier? In no way.
A chocolate connoisseur? Hardly. An industry expert? Far from it. A chocolate lover? Who isn’t! I like to classify myself as a chocolate-opportunist; an opportunist who sees potential and prospects, advantages and strengths. My specialty? Innovation. Innovation to help businesses identify new opportunities or increase efficiency and productivity.
And, as I see it (please excuse the pun), the chocolate industry is fruitful with opportunities. To name a few:
- Cacao tree preservation – We need to identify and protect our endangered fine chocolate producing trees;
- Consumer education – We love a good tasting chocolate bar, but there needs to be greater understanding and appreciation of the breadth of fine chocolate;
- Business sustainability – Our growers and manufactures need to remain profitable in order to meet our demand for flavor!
So now, how do we use these opportunities to strengthen our beloved fine chocolate industry? How do we ensure that no one has to suffer a bitter, wintry day without a warm cup of silky drinking chocolate or a romantic evening without a handcrafted bonbon? I’m thinking that it will start with collaboration. Industry collaboration. Supply chain collaboration…. Revolutionary!
Sophia