For third consecutive year, Guatemala participates on the international competition Cocoa of Excellence Program (CoEx), along with other countries that dominate the cocoa market.

The CoEx program seeks to “raise awareness and promote the cocoa value chain in order to produce high-quality cocoa and preserve different flavors produced with genetic modifications, the terroir and the know-how of cocoa producers”.

This competition involves a first national stage where, through different physical and sensitive parameters, the best cocoa samples are chosen to represent each country on the international stage of the competition. For Guatemala, the national competition was organized by AGEXPORT’s Chocolate and Cocoa Committee.

At this national stage, the Committee selected fine cocoa samples from different origins, which will represent Guatemala internationally. The samples were selected from the following locations:

– Livingston, Izabal.

– Tzalamtun, Santa María Cahabón, Alta Verapaz

– Champerico, Santa María Cahabón, Alta Verapaz

– Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango

– Cuyotenango, Suchitepéquez

This program is the point of access for the International Cocoa Awards that take place bi-annually as a tribute and recognition to the quality and exceptional cocoa flavors. On 2019, this award will celebrate its 10th edition, organized by Biodiversity International and Event International, jointly with Guittard Chocolate, Seguine Cacao, Cocoa and Chocolate; Barry Callebaut, Puratos, the Cocoa Research Centre of the University of the West Indies, CRC/UWI, Valrhona and sponsored by CocoaTown; said Mr. Ismael Herrera, coordinator of AGEXPORT’s Cocoa and Chocolate Committee.

The cocoa simples sent by different countries around the would will be submitted to rigorous procedures for evaluation and selection developed by the CoEx’s Technical Committee in order to select the 50 best samples and afterwards continue the selection process to determine the ones that will be awarded with the prestigious International Cocoa Awards at the Salon du Chocolate in Paris, France, on October 30^th, 2019.

Following the ceremony, the organizing committee will publish the list of 50 best cocoa productions in the world, along with specific details of the world’s finest cocoas that will be awarded at the event.

By supporting Guatemalan cocoa producers at this important competition, AGEXPORT seeks to boost the production of Guatemalan fine cocoa and seek for new international clients for this product. To achieve this, AGEXPORT established an important alliance with the Connecting Central America’s Business Support Organisation (BSO), a program from the Dutch Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI). Through innovative methodologies, this program allows new companies and cooperatives to export fine cocoa to the European market.

For more information, contact Mr. Ismael Herrera, Executive Coordinator of AGEXPORT’s Cocoa and Chocolate Commission, at ismael.herrera@agexport.org.gt