Post-Tropical Storm Erika, many Dominicans and supporters of The Commonwealth of Dominica continue to step up to join Rebuild Dominica, Inc. — a nonprofit based in Washington D.C.

Efforts continue to restore The Nature Island and encourage those affected by the storm’s effects. In the midst of redevelopment efforts, Caribbean Agricultural Network leads the ranks as a strong supporter of Dominica’s relief efforts.

Prior to the devastating floods brought on by Tropical Storm Erika, a collaboration formed between the Caribbean Agricultural Network, CiBEXO Group Dominica, and the Law Office of Gabriel Christian. The result was SPAGnVOLA Chocolatier‘s Chocolat de la Dominique – The Nature’s Island 70% Dark Chocolate bar. This is a premium chocolate collection made from Dominican cacao.

Caribbean Agricultural Network and SPAGnVOLA have committed to donate 100% of the proceeds of their first production of Dominica’s SPAGnVOLA Dark Chocolate bars to post Erika relief and recovery. A select number of the artisan chocolate bars are now on sale at SPAGnVOLA outlets in both Gaithersburg, MD and DC’s National Harbor. The single source chocolate bars are produced from Dominica’s cacao with a sale price of $25.00 per bar.

The official SPAGnVOLA press release on September 27th 2015 quotes SPAGnVOLA’s head chocolate maker, Crisoire Reid, as stating, “The main ingredient in these bars is love and this is what’s being sent to Dominica with a 100% of the proceeds from this effort.” According to an official statement by the founders of Caribbean Agricultural Network, this fundraising effort is a demonstration of their commitment, not only to the farmers, but to the people of The Commonwealth of Dominica. The goal is to raise $25,000 from the sale of 1,000 bars, with 100% of those proceeds going to Dominica disaster relief efforts. A sampling event in November at The National Harbor in DC will soon be announced.

In the words of Caribbean Agricultural Network CEO, Francis Richards, “We need to create a business culture within agriculture… [and] adopt new technologies to improve production and new products, or product offerings, penetrate new markets. In that fashion we can become trend setters in food production.” This commitment from both Caribbean Agricultural Network and SPAGnVOLA to donate 1,000 Dominican premium chocolate bars help Rebuild Dominica, Inc. continue its work of aiding with Dominica’s disaster relief.

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About Caribbean Agricultural Network

The Caribbean Agricultural Network (CAN) believes in the philosophy of “CAN DO!” CAN marries the skills of agricultural scientist, lawyers, marketers, innovators and the best in computer science technology to enhance Caribbean agriculture. Their network links the farmer, agriculture departments and exporters of agricultural products with regional and international markets, financing, technology and consumers to allow producers to receive a better price. CAN intends to partner with farmers across the Caribbean region so they can receive training along with technical and business-management support to produce well-planned, sophisticated crops.

Among the products the company will place focus on are cacoa, ginger, yucca, yams, sweet potatoes, dasheen, oranges, mangoes, avocados and mushrooms to name a few. The network will also boost food security in the Caribbean by introducing best business and other practices to boost agriculture and fisheries. CAN also intends to partner with US farmers and others in the Americas to share in the networking so necessary to absorb best practices.

About SPAGnVOLA

Since 2009 SPAGnVOLA has made an unprecedented name for themselves within the chocolate industry. Using the finest cacao beans harvested from their private farm in Dominican Republic. The company handcrafts exquisite premium chocolates through a vertically integrated process. SPAGnVOLA is engaged in a number of international projects with other cocoa-producing countries with an emphasis in transforming the industry by adding greater value to cacao farmers.

SPAGnVOLA is a 2015 award winner of the London-based Academy of Chocolate. They specialize in artisan single-source premium chocolate bars. In partnership with the Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, SPAGnVOLA is to start training chocolatiers and chocolate makers from Caribbean’s cocoa producers in Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. To ensure that Caribbean farmers add value to their cocoa, this partnership will establish a chocolate-making factory in Barbados on a 30 acre plot of land donated by Barbadian philanthropist Eddie Edghill and his family.

 

This write-up was prepared by the Media Relations Team at Rebuild Dominica. For more information regarding this post, contact LaDàna Drigo at 202.670.6489 or info@AbovePrestigePR.com.