Press Release
World Cocoa and Chocolate Day 2013 - All Things Cocoa
For Immediate Release
The Cocoa Research Centre (CRC), of The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, custodians of the International Cocoa Genebank, Trinidad is once again celebrating World Cocoa and Chocolate Day by supporting the revival of the cocoa industry in Trinidad and Tobago through a signature event to highlight the wealth we possess and our achievements in terms of cocoa research, outreach and value addition.
The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), the global representative body of cocoa producers has instituted October 1st of each year as Cocoa Day, recognising the efforts of the millions of small holder farmers who supply over 3 million tonnes of cocoa each year to be made into one of the most revered food items worldwide, chocolate. In addition, the Académie Française du Chocolat et de la Confiserie (French Chocolate and Confectionery Academy), in recognition of the living conditions of cocoa growers the world over and ensure that consumers become aware of the need for a long-term self-sustained cocoa economy, has mandated that October 1st be designated the World Cocoa and Chocolate Day.
CRC’s World Cocoa and Chocolate Day celebration under the theme, All Things Cocoa, is scheduled for October 1st, 2013 at the JFK Auditorium situated within the premises of The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. It will consist of displays by CRC, local and foreign stakeholders and producers in the cocoa industry, associated bodies and the corporate sponsors.
The overall objective of "All Things Cocoa" is to raise the public profile of cocoa by highlighting the long history of cocoa in Trinidad and Tobago and its contribution to the world; the unique place that Trinidad and Tobago cocoa occupies, to outline the role that cocoa can play in the economic diversification efforts of this country and to garner support towards creating a new cocoa industry based on the pillars of sustainability and value creation.
Our sponsors for this event are the Ministry of Food Production, CARIRI and Petrotrin. The event will feature:
- A chocolate food fest featuring the best of the chocolate-based cuisines and confectioneries including Mexican Hot Chocolate
- A competition fostering innovations in incorporating cocoa/chocolate into food: "Innovations in Chocolate Cuisine: A Food and Beverage Challenge".
- Cacao Dreams: Chocolate Haven. An exhibition highlighting the cocoa story, the challenges and threats, the creative efforts of local entrepreneurs and researchers, what the future should look like and information on best practices and technologies on offer.
- Opportunities to win prizes for answering trivia questions on the exhibition
- Tours to the genebank, opportunities to sign up to learn chocolate making or learning to become a chocolate flavor ‘connoisseur’; children's games and lots of other fun activities - some special activities will be courtesy of NIHERST who have kindly agreed to allow us the use of their Jeopardy game.
This exhibition will be open to the public from 9:30am to 6:00pm. Another feature of the event will be a door prize for visitors who sign up, a Trivia grand prize for visitors who fill out a form with questions based on the exhibition and the sale of our very own premium quality, Trinidad Origin ICGT brand chocolate. An array of informative, entertaining and engaging activities is planned for chocophiles of all ages. CRC invites members of the public to come and celebrate this momentous occasion with us.
For more information on All Things Cocoa, please contact either Sophia Thompson or Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan at 662-8788 or via email at info@cocoacentre.com or pathmanathan.umaharan@sta.uwi.edu or write to us on our Facebook page http://facebook.com/cocoacentre
