All about chocolate

Published 11:03 am Wednesday, February 13, 2013

It is the most important food group for many of us. In February, the Orcas Island Garden Club members are thinking about  Valentine’s Day, chocolate and the growing season  fast approaching.

The Garden Club presents Joe Whinney, founder of  Seattle-based Theo Chocolate, at the meeting  Feb. 20, 10 a.m., at Orcas Center, in the Madrona Room.

Whinney pioneered the organic chocolate market in 1994. He will bring a story of tastes, and tales of a chocolate adventure unlike any you have heard before.

Theo Chocolate is the only organic and fair trade certified bean- to- bar chocolate maker in North America. The cocoa beans are purchased direct from farmers, or growing cooperatives, from the Republic of Congo, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Peru and are Fair Trade and Fair for Life.

Fair for Life is a brand-neutral, third party certification program for social accountability and fair trade in agriculture. Fair Trade practices assure just compensation for farmers and workers and that the product is good for the earth.

For more info, see www.orcasislandgardenclub.org.