Fine Cocoa Conference and Chocolate Expo to be held in Tobago

The third annual Caribbean Fine Cocoa Forum Conference and Chocolate Expo (CFCF3), one of the region’s most vital cocoa forums, is set for June 28-29 in Tobago. Themed “Fine Cocoa: Transforming Caribbean Rural Economies in the 21st Century,”{{more}} the conference will feature an array of government officials, academics, cocoa farmer associations and private sector participants from the region, discussing several issues related to cocoa. Participants will also enjoy sampling of the latest cocoa drinks and chocolate products.

CFCF3, scheduled to be held at the Magdalena Grand Hotel and Beach Resort in Lowlands, includes an impressive list of speakers including The Honourable Orville London, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly; The Honourable Roger Clarke, Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture; The Honourable Vasant Bharath, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Food Production (MFPLMA); The Honourable Stephen Cadiz, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Trade and Industry; The Honourable Fazal Karim, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education; Dr Carlisle Pemberton, Chairman of the Coffee and Cocoa Board of Trinidad and Tobago (CCIB); Mr Curtis Manchoon, Chairman of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT); and several project team members of the CFCF3.

Together they will make presentations before a gathering of cocoa industry participants, investors, exporters, academics, public and private sector individuals involved in rural development and Caribbean government officials. CFCF3 will include segments on new technologies for advancing production, food safety and quality and the conference theme, transforming rural cocoa economies. Lovers of cocoa will be given the chance to sample assorted products at the exposition during the event.

CFCF3 marks the third in the highly successful conference series, launched on November 22, 2010 in Trinidad and Tobago. The second conference was held last year at the Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort in Rose Hall, Jamaica.

The European Union-funded Caribbean Fine Cocoa Forum (CFCF) was created under the ACP Science & Technology Program, with the goal of encouraging sector stakeholders to become successful participants in a viable and sustainable regional cocoa industry. Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada and St Lucia are exclusive “fine cocoa” producers, engaged in the process of accelerating development to revitalize the cocoa fields and realize their full potential. CFCF partners include MFPLMA, UTT, CIB and CCIB.

Those wishing to take part in CFCF3 can email cfcf@utt.edu.tt or finecocoaforum@ymail.com. For more information on the conference please visit www.caribbeanfinecocaforum.org .