Cocoa Crisis, stock up on chocolate now! [Archive]

View Full Version : Cocoa Crisis, stock up on chocolate now!

MNeagle

12th November 2010, 08:45 PM

Chocolate was once the drink of Mayan and Aztec kings. Now a cocoa shortage may make chocolate an exclusive luxury again.

Chocolate could become as rare as caviar, said John Mason of the Ghana-based Nature Conservation Research Council. Which means chocolate treats may become unaffordable for the average person.

The price of cocoa, the raw ingredient for chocolate, has been skyrocketing in international markets. Demand for chocolate, especially for dark chocolate which uses more cocoa, has helped fuel price increases.

But unfair trade and environmental problems have resulted in supply not keeping pace with demand. West Africa leads the world in cocoa production. But the profits don't come back to many of the farmers there, and that is one of the main causes of the shortage.

In the Ivory Coast, cocoa farmers often earn less than $1 a day, and in many cases the land they farm has lost its fertility, said Tony Lass, chairman of the Cocoa Research Association in the UK Independent. Ivory Coast farmers are leaving behind unprofitable, failing cocoa orchards for the cities.

Article continues: http://news.discovery.com/earth/chocolate-supply-threatened-by-cocoa-crisis.html#

TheNocturnalEgyptian

15th November 2010, 01:18 PM

sunshine05

15th November 2010, 05:43 PM

Personally I enjoy cocoa and keep several pounds of raw powder on hand.

Me too! But I'm going to pick up some more now:).

1970 silver art

15th November 2010, 06:02 PM

I am glad that I do not have to worry about this since I do not eat chocolate.

MNeagle

24th January 2011, 07:13 AM

Cocoa Export Ban Sends Cocoa Prices Surging, Ivory Coast Violence Expected

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/24/2011 07:43 -0500

Exchange Traded FundGross Domestic Product

As we highlighted yesterday, and predicted a week ago, following the Ivory Coast's halt of cocoa exports, futures in the substance have moved to one-year highs on Monday as "ongoing political tensions in the world's top producer escalated." The WSJ reports that "New York ICE second-month cocoa futures soared more than 4% to a one-year high of $3,340 a metric ton. In London, front-month March futures jumped 7% at the open to a five-month high of GBP2,307/ton ($3,692/ton)." We hope that our prediction that JP Morgan is the mastermind behind this most recent key commodity market implosion, made surely in jest, remains that way and that no cocoa ETF is currently being prepared by JPM without anyone's knowledge, until it is of course, too late.

From the WSJ, as to why yet another food price-based conflict is imminent:

On Saturday, the Central Bank of West African States forced an ally of presidential incumbent Mr. Gbagbo to resign, effectively handing the country's purse strings to Mr. Ouattara, who is recognized by most foreign countries as having won a presidential run-off at the end of November.

Dealers said investors are scrambling to take cover in the futures markets as uncertainty over supplies mounts ahead of Easter, when demand for the key chocolate ingredient is high.

"Hearing the words 'export ban' applied to the top cocoa producer has got people worried," said a London-based broker. "Everybody's trying to get some protective buying in."

Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa exporter, accounting for about 40% of the world markets. The cash crop is grown mainly by small-holder farmers with less than a couple of hectares of land, yet exports provide almost one-third of the country's gross domestic product. Farmers are expected to produce a bumper crop of around 1.3 million tons this year due to clement weather.

Observers now fear the current export ban could fuel a fresh wave of violence in the West African country. At least 260 people have been killed since the disputed Nov. 28 presidential vote and many in the international community now fear the country may be on the brink of a return to the civil war that ripped it apart from 2002.

Kona Haque, commodities analyst at Macquarie, said international exporters are likely to abide by Mr. Ouattara's dictat in the hope of currying favour with the future leader.

"They'll want to be on the right side of him if ultimately he's going to be the president," she said. "It all depends on how much the industry needs cocoa right now. If they don't have enough they'll find a way to get it out."

And the funny thing is that the cheap liquidity demand side speculators did not even yet enter the cocoa market. We expect that to happen soon enough.

zero hedge (http://www.zerohedge.com/article/cocoa-export-ban-sends-cocoa-prices-surging-ivory-coast-violence-expected?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedg e+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+fo r+everyone+drops+to+zero%29)

ximmy

24th January 2011, 10:54 AM

Yeesh!!.. I better head over to See's

MNeagle

24th January 2011, 11:03 AM

Yes, zimmy, buy what you love now. Especially w/ Valentine's so close; and as they mentioned, Easter.

Husband was complaining about the cost of Hershey bars from Costco yesterday. Kept threatening to replace them with Hershey Kisses. (cheaper don't you know). Plus, he claims, we would eat less of them.

Grrrr. Don't mess w/ my chocolate!!

(I know it's not See's, but whattheheck).

zap

24th January 2011, 11:05 AM

Yeesh!!.. I better head over to See's

I can't stock up on chocolate ! cause I can't stay out-ta it if it is in the house. ;D

Neuro

24th January 2011, 11:09 AM

Mayhaps it is related to this:

http://gold-silver.us/forum/general-discussion/mystery-trader-buys-all-europe's-cocoa/

http://gold-silver.us/forum/general-discussion/british-financier-anthony-ward-behind-658m-cocoa-trade/?PHPSESSID=p53evfif2u7b0f3ss1kik7uc97

Personally I enjoy cocoa and keep several pounds of raw powder on hand.
Bravo! Could very well be a Pump and Dump. Just manufacture some news supporting the "shortage"!

However cocoa could be an excellent barter product WTSHTF. Not grown in Europe and US.

Road Runner

2nd February 2011, 11:50 AM

Yeesh!!.. I better head over to See's

I can't stock up on chocolate ! cause I can't stay out-ta it if it is in the house. ;D

Me neither!!! ;D

carpathian

11th February 2011, 08:43 PM

24 (!!!) bars for $20.72
http://www.amazon.com/Scharffen-Berger-Semisweet-3-Ounce-Packages/dp/B002EDD1BQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1297485849&sr=1-1
ordered my 48 bars
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411gNsD2VvL._SL500_AA300_PIbundle-24,TopRight,0,0_AA300_SH20_.jpg

edit: "All of our chocolate is certified Kosher under the rabbinical supervision of orthodox union" ............. :dunno

edit 2.0 : out of stock >:(

carpathian

29th March 2011, 08:07 PM

Amazon just dropped the prices on a whole bunch of chocolates
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_n_4?rh=n%3A16310101%2Cn%3A!2334096011%2C n%3A!2334158011%2Cn%3A1266153011%2Cn%3A16322461&bbn=1266153011&ie=UTF8&qid=1301453713&rnid=16310211

edit: expired

ximmy

30th March 2011, 10:50 AM

MNeagle

30th March 2011, 04:50 PM

Hershey raises candy prices nearly 10 percent

HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) -- Chocolate is going to cost a little more green.

The Hershey Co. on Wednesday said it raised wholesale prices by 9.7 percent, because its own costs have risen.

The candy maker says the price increase takes effect immediately. It cited higher costs for raw materials, packaging, fuel, utilities and transportation as driving the hike.

Consumers may not see the impact on store shelves right away, however. A Hershey spokesman said many retailers will be able to buy products at the old prices for about eight weeks.

The announcement comes weeks before one of the most popular candy consumption holidays. Americans spend about $2 billion on Easter candy annually.

The company said it expects most of the financial benefit from the increases will be reflected in its 2012 results.

It expects 2011 earnings to be at the top end of its prior forecast of $2.54 to $2.63 per share. Adjusted for various charges, profit should be near the high end of $2.70 to $2.76 per share.

Hershey expects 2011 sales near the top end of its prior range, between $5.84 billion and $5.95 billion.

Analysts, on average, expect adjusted profit of $2.77 per share.

Wall Street expects sales of $5.93 billion for the year, on average.

Hershey shares closed Wednesday trading down 10 cents at $54.69.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hershey-raises-candy-prices-apf-4239949474.html?x=0

Cobalt

30th March 2011, 04:56 PM

I just bought 4 jugs of hershey syrup today at Costco

I better go get more ;D

sunnyandseventy

30th March 2011, 05:07 PM

I guess having health issues and the need to change my diet has it's benefits.
No chocolate, no coffee, no caffeine, no need to stock up.

carpathian

30th March 2011, 06:36 PM

some "discount" chocolate is still available @ amazon
11-pound bar for $37( 5 kilo of good quality belgian chocolate !!! )
only one problem is how to break it, it is hard.
we put it in a paper bag and smash it with the hammer, lol
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=roland+chocolate+11+pound+bar&x=0&y=0

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413wjVauNwL.jpg

MNeagle

30th March 2011, 08:01 PM

I guess having health issues and the need to change my diet has it's benefits.
No chocolate, no coffee, no caffeine, no need to stock up.

Ahh, but what barter power those have, no??

DMac

31st March 2011, 10:14 AM

Related thread, regarding cocoa:

Fighting breaks out in Ivory Coast Gbagbo stronghold (http://gold-silver.us/forum/general-discussion/fighting-breaks-out-in-ivory-coast-gbagbo-stronghold/)

sunnyandseventy

31st March 2011, 11:34 AM

I guess having health issues and the need to change my diet has it's benefits.
No chocolate, no coffee, no caffeine, no need to stock up.

Ahh, but what barter power those have, no??

True. And that's why in my latest home organizing I didn't give away the coffee, filters, or caffeinated tea. I'm done stocking up and stockpiling. No room.

Hatha Sunahara

10th May 2011, 10:27 AM

Looks like chocolate will be turning into money--like cigarettes were in Germany after WWII. I'm stocking up on chocolate coins covered in gold colored foil.

Too much sugar in them.

Hatha

lapis

10th May 2011, 10:44 AM

Be sure to read labels. I was surprised that some "good" brands like Ghirardelli chocolates (the kind with fillings) now have trans-fats.

This site lists the domestic chocolates and candies with trans-fats:

http://www.acaloriecounter.com/candy-chocolate.php

Remember that a food's package can say that it contains “0 Grams Trans Fat," but in FDA-speak that means it can still contain up to 500 mg. of trans-fats per serving.

I'm so glad they're out there conducting one year-long stings to bust those dangerous Amish dairy farmers but allow this kind of subterfuge! ::)

carpathian

21st February 2012, 06:31 PM

ximmy

21st February 2012, 06:49 PM

carpathian

21st February 2012, 06:54 PM

oh c'mon, it is healthy and tasty at the same time
just want to share a good deal

MNeagle

21st February 2012, 07:00 PM

umm, no issues w/ breaking it up as mentioned in the reviews??

Anyway OT, just earlier I was reading a 1999 cookbook & one of the ingredients listed for fudge was:

4 (10 cent) Hershey bars

I mentioned it to my husband & asked what he thought that size might be... he thought the small/fun size as regular Hershey's were about 50 cents then.

carpathian

21st February 2012, 08:13 PM

we use one of those throwing knives and a meat tenderizer as a hammer, keep it in a plastic bag during the process to avoid chocolate "debris" flying all over your place. put the chocolate (in plastic bag) on the cutting board or piece of wood( knife will go through and can make some unwanted marks ) , than point the knife or a screwdriver where approximately you want to break the piece, and smash with the hammer. with some practice you will get to the professional level.

ximmy

21st February 2012, 08:24 PM

Perhaps I will hire a Jackhammer...

zap

21st February 2012, 08:38 PM

I think I will just keep in in plastic and throw it down on the sidewalk :)

MNeagle

21st February 2012, 08:44 PM

or wait for the hell hot summer & melt it!

zap

21st February 2012, 08:53 PM

HAHA I forgot I can wrap it good and get the shovel out!

ximmy

21st February 2012, 08:55 PM

HAHA I forgot I can wrap it good and get the shovel out!

why do we treat chocolate like we treat men?

zap

21st February 2012, 08:57 PM

LOL, Oh ximmy be nice.

gunDriller

22nd February 2012, 07:32 AM

my tongue is grateful.

my teeth & gums are not so grateful.

my stomach is grateful.

ximmy

25th February 2012, 12:43 PM

EEK!.. I didn't know this thing was that large!.. :o

2305

carpathian

25th February 2012, 02:25 PM

You are wrong, it is only 11 pounds ( 5 kilo )

enjoy !!!

Neuro

25th February 2012, 03:07 PM

Shouldn't this be moved to ladies sub forum?

osoab

25th February 2012, 04:43 PM

EEK!.. I didn't know this thing was that large!.. :o

2305

You could coat your whole stash with that bar. :o

Golden

25th February 2012, 05:16 PM

Shouldn't this be moved to ladies sub forum? Whaaat!

I picked up a couple 70% Amano bars from my local chocolatier that are thoroughly satisfying.
Guayas
Tasting Notes: Smokey, Blackberry, Floral, Green Banana
I found blackberry to be prominent.
Chuao
Tasting Notes: Plums, Blueberries, Blackberries, Molasses, Coffee, Almonds
Complex and refined this is to be enjoyed s l o w l y. :o

gunDriller

26th February 2012, 09:55 AM

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8SVxGGuwaBI/Tm7DIa9S7aI/AAAAAAAABZY/_wscul_QROU/s1600/Toblerone.jpg

this stuff is good ;)

ximmy

15th March 2012, 11:18 PM

Well, I broke up and gave away all the chocolate; co workers, family, neighbors...
I am keeping a small jar of it at work for coffee.

Note to self: "Do not buy 11 pound chocolate bars"

Neuro

16th March 2012, 07:21 AM

Well, I broke up and gave away all the chocolate; co workers, family, neighbors...
I am keeping a small jar of it at work for coffee.

Note to self: "Do not buy 11 pound chocolate bars"
Pimples? LOL

Golden

16th March 2012, 08:06 AM

Same reason the bulk of my reserves are in other forms not readily edible. Summertime! Woo-hoo!

ximmy

16th March 2012, 12:37 PM

Pimples? LOL

naw... it was just a disgustingly large amount...

Neuro

17th March 2012, 03:21 PM

naw... it was just a disgustingly large amount...

Couldn't you break it up over time instead of break it up with your fellow chocolate lovers...

ximmy

19th March 2012, 10:46 AM

Couldn't you break it up over time instead of break it up with your fellow chocolate lovers...

Usual duties & priorities left no time to manage a huge chocolate bar... :p

Neuro

19th March 2012, 11:22 AM

Usual duties & priorities left no time to manage a huge chocolate bar... :p

You need a child or two to get a new perspective on life and it's duties and priorities! ;D

Horn

19th March 2012, 02:11 PM

Mayhaps it is related to this:

http://gold-silver.us/forum/general-discussion/mystery-trader-buys-all-europe's-cocoa/

http://gold-silver.us/forum/general-discussion/british-financier-anthony-ward-behind-658m-cocoa-trade/?PHPSESSID=p53evfif2u7b0f3ss1kik7uc97

Personally I enjoy cocoa and keep several pounds of raw powder on hand.

For me, its slightly worse than cocaine in the addictive substance category.

carpathian

15th April 2012, 08:06 PM

5 kilo ( 11 pounds ) semisweet 54% bar - $ 32.84 , free shipping (13 in stock)
http://www.amazon.com/Roland-Belgian-Semisweet-Chocolate-11-Pound/dp/B001IAJFDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1329877741&sr=1-1
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413wjVauNwL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

edit: we started our 3rd bar, good balance of sugar and cocoa

edit 2.0 : on sale again - $ 28.93 , free shipping

5 left in stock
some other flavors are on sale too : http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1?rh=n%3A16310101%2Cp_4%3ARoland%2Cn%3 A!16310211%2Cn%3A16322461%2Cn%3A2257225011&bbn=16322461&ie=UTF8&qid=1334545678&rnid=16322461