The Northwest Chocolate Festival 2026

I plan on talking about how much work goes in to sourcing specialty cacao beans so that we can make chocolate in its purest possible form. My talk will focus on the complexity of direct trade, drawing from my experience working directly with farmers under different conditions in different regions of Peru. The topics I plan to touch in include: logistical and human challenges, like navigating difficult terrain and building relationships with indigenous communities, understanding the politics within those small communities as well as training for post-harvest and building effective post-harvest installations efficiently. I’ll also address the complexities of maintaining trust and accountability within these supply chains.

My goal is to use photos, videos, and stories from my travels to remote Awajún communities in Amazonas, Peru to give audience members an immersive behind-the-scenes look at what direct trade really looks like. Instead of a polished, idealized narrative, they'll experience the unpredictability, beauty, and effort of operating in the High Amazon Basin of Northwestern Peru.

The audience will benefit by understanding that direct-trade is more than just wording on a website or box of chocolate, it is a fascinating labor-intensive claim and a lot more nuanced than most people believe it to be. They will walk away with a more grounded understanding of direct trade. I want consumers to walk out of the session with a better framework for judging sourcing claims, understanding quality, and appreciating the real cost and rewards of origin-driven cacao.