Bean to bar chocolate makers and business owners are not sweating the tariffs. Especially Yves Thomas Co-owner of Center And Main thanks to their commitment to support Ontario farmers. Being located in northumberland county his business is able to rely on local produce for ingredients such as dairy from Bellville and herbs from Warkworth. “ We don't need to source anything from the states. It's a blessing..prices won't change" he said at The fifth annual Winter Chocolate show.
Local agriculture is not the only thing saving Canadian chocolate producers from the tariffs, it's also the Cacao Belt. Since, Cacao pods trees grow in climates 10 degrees above and below the equator, it is never imported from the United states. Making it so that Canadian makers can avoid including any American goods and subsequent expenses in their production.
For some the show is more than a business opportunity it's about advocacy. Chocosol GM Mathieu McFadden believes that the tariffs will lead consumers to re-evaluate what they are supporting with their purchases “ For us it’s about regenerative agriculture trading and selling practices in Canada”. Chocosol proudly uses horizontal trade to support their global farmers and although it might cost more McFadden knows his chocolate is worth celebrating
Despite the pressure, event co-founder and owner of The Candy Bar Toronto Paola Giavedoni is hopeful. “We don't give ourselves enough credit… we all have buying power we can choose to support Canadian Business”. Giavedoni has seen this event grow over the last six years from its humble beginnings in the basement of the Enoch Schoolhouse and through the pandemic where guidelines made an event such as this one nearly impossible.
Today her and Erik Hanssens event The Winter Chocolate Show features chocolate makers from coast to coast who attend their events. This year at the Toronto Reference Library they sold over a thousand tickets and hosted over 35 vendors from across Canada. Giving Canada's vibrant chocolate making community a space to connect and shine.
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