Wellington Chocolate Voyage – Towards a Better Tasting World

The Wellington Chocolate Voyage – Sailing towards a Better Tasting World

Wellington, 6 November 2014 - A tasty new initiative aims to link New Zealand and the Pacific islands of Bougainville through crowdfunded chocolate making and a sailing ship.

The Wellington Chocolate Voyage kickstarter campaign is run by Wellington chocolate makers Rochelle Harrison and Gabe Davidson and international development worker Sera Price. Launched November 6, the Voyage will connect backers with Bougainville cocoa farmer James Rutana, improving his plantation’s drying facilities then buying a crop of rare, high-quality cocoa beans from him at a fair price. Gabe and Rochelle will transport the beans to Wellington themselves on a sailing ship and turn them into a uniquely flavoured artisan 'Bougainville Bar' at The Wellington Chocolate Factory.

The Bougainville Bar will be gifted to Kickstarter backers and Bougainville cocoa bean farmers – many of whom have never tasted chocolate.

‘The Voyage is an adventure for anyone who loves chocolate and wants to see amazing places like Bougainville get a fair deal,’ said Mr Davidson. ‘We built the idea out of passion for great food, ethical business, and extraordinary people. By backing us you get to follow the entire journey from bean to bar. Plus there’s a sailing ship and everyone can get chocolate!’

Bougainville, an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea, is familiar to many Kiwis from the book and movie ‘Mr Pip’. New Zealand has a long-standing connection with the region, which experienced a devastating civil war during the 1990s.

‘Bougainville once had fine quality cocoa but the industry suffered, as did the rest of the region, from war and neglect.’ said Ms Harrison. ‘They are rebuilding and we want to help put their cocoa back on the map!’

Running the Wellington Chocolate Factory is a dream job for the pair, but it’s also made them keenly aware of the difficulties faced by cocoa farmers worldwide. Through a chance meeting with international development worker Sera Price, they learned of a cocoa-growing legend in need of some support.

‘James Rutana is Bougainville's Mr Cocoa’, said Ms Price. ‘He’s been growing and developing cocoa beans since 1958, and runs a programme to share his knowledge and planting materials with other farmers in the region. James is an inspirational figure but has faced many setbacks – the Wellington Chocolate Voyage is way for Kiwis to get behind his dreams for Bougainville.’

‘The Voyage is part of the new revolution in artisan chocolate, where mega-industrialised production takes a back seat to skill, care, and people.’ said Mr Davidson. ‘We want everyone to be part of making great chocolate and a better tasting world.’

The Wellington Chocolate Voyage aims to raise $36,000 or more, with backer options starting at $1. It launched on Kickstarter Thursday November 6 and will run until December 10.

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wellingtonchocolate/the-wellington-chocolate-voyage
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewellingtonchocolatefactory

Background information and goals:
Rochelle Harrison and Gabe Davidson founded the Wellington Chocolate Factory in an historic building on inner-city Eva Street, Wellington. They employ eleven staff and are open to the public, making organic, ethically traded, bean-to-bar chocolate of the highest quality.

Bougainville has links with New Zealand who provided peace keeping efforts during the civil war. This lasted until 1999 and wiped out virtually everything. The people are rebuilding and New Zealand has assisted through NZAID and programs such as the Community Policing Programme run by New Zealand Police and Volunteers Services Abroad.

Cocoa farmers face troubling conditions worldwide, including slave labour and the use of low-quality, high-yield industrial crops. The ethical model promoted by the Wellington Chocolate Voyage encourages farmers to preserve unique varietals, grow high quality crops, earn a premium price, and move up the value chain.

The Wellington Chocolate Voyage campaign launched Thursday November 6 on the Kickstarter crowdfunding site. It will last 35 days, aiming for $36,000 or more in total funding. Backer tiers begin at $1, and those who donate $24 or more will receive their own 'Bougainville Bar' sent to them anywhere in the world. A host of other rewards are available including personalised factory tours, individual lessons with a master chocolatier, and even places on the sailboat for a once-in-a-lifetime journey across the Pacific.

ENDS

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