Brazil has temporarily suspended cocoa imports from Ivory Coast due to phytosanitary concerns, impacting trade between the two nations.

Croatian confectionery company Kraš ended 2025 with a reduced profit of 6.5 million euros, primarily attributed to the high cost of cocoa. The company approaches 2026 with cautious optimism.

Brazil has announced a suspension of cocoa imports originating from Ivory Coast.

Plan International Ghana is driving a transformation in the cocoa-growing community of Jato, fostering confidence and leadership among girls to overcome vulnerability and improve education.

Last week, the story emerged of how a ‘hit-and-run’ road accident victim was refused emergency care by the Ridge, Police and Korle Bu hospitals for close to three hours before he died. Somehow, the tragic story struggled to hog the limelight of the media space, perhaps because the issue of cocoa producer prices, with all […]

Ghana posted a US$13.66 billion trade surplus in 2025, significantly higher than the US$9.88 billion recorded in 2024.

Ivory Coast's minister has stated that the country will announce the cocoa mid-crop price by the end of the month.

A photo gallery highlights ongoing issues and challenges within the global cocoa market.

Cocoa High School in Florida has announced the return of alum Nate Hooks as its new head football coach.

The differing reliance on cocoa is creating a split in the fortunes of South Korea's confectionery giants, Lotte Wellfood and Orion, despite both seeing record sales last year due to strong overseas demand.

Ghana's licensed cocoa buyers collectively owe banks as much as $750 million, according to their association, which is raising fresh liquidity risks within the sector.

A recent survey by Global InfoAnalytics has revealed that most cocoa farmers in Ghana believe the government’s newly announced farmgate price is fair, despite street protests and criticism from opposition politicians. According to the poll, 56% of cocoa farmers said the new price was fair, while only 11% called it unfair, with 33% remaining neutral. The findings come after widespread unrest following the Producer Price Review Committee’s (PPRC) announcement on February 12, 2026, that pegged ...

The world's largest cocoa producer is grappling with a growing crisis as farmers face a significant volume of unsold main crop beans, with an additional 100,000 tons expected by the end of March.

Cocoa clerks and farmers in Ghana's Upper West Akyem Municipality are reporting losses and clerks are facing attacks from farmers following a government-mandated reduction in cocoa prices, which farmers describe as a scam.

The State of Things Every so often, you come across an economic situation so perverse, so utterly divorced from basic market logic, that you have to wonder how it has survived for so long. The case of Ghana’s cocoa sector is a textbook example. Here we have a country that produces some of the world’s finest cocoa—the essential ingredient for a multi-billion dollar global chocolate industry.  Yet the smallholder farmers who are the bedrock of this industry remain trapped in extreme poverty, ma...

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western North Region has expressed grave concern over the silence of the eight National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament from the region, regarding the recent reduction of cocoa price.

Ghana Cocoa Board's Deputy Chief Executive for Finance and Administration, Mr. Ato Boateng, has expressed readiness for investigations into conflict of interest allegations.

Hershey's has modified some of its Reese's candy recipes due to soaring cocoa prices, a change that has drawn disapproval from the grandson of the original Peanut Butter Cup inventor.

My favorite chocolate cake recipe to make for guests is from Joanna Gaines. Alexa Mellardo I love dessert, and one of my favorites to make for guests is Joanna Gaines' chocolate-cola cake. The recipe's star ingredient is cola, which goes into both the cake mix and the buttercream. It's incredibly decadent, and I like to pair it with fresh strawberries. I'm a major dessert person — you know, one of those people who looks at the dessert menu before deciding on my appetizer and entrée. That's why, regardless of what I'm serving for dinner, the night always ends with decadence, namely, Joanna Gaines' chocolate-cola cake with chocolate-cola buttercream. It's as scrumptious as it sounds and has become one of my go-to desserts for dinner parties and special occasions. Here's how to make it. To start, I gather all the ingredients. Alexa Mellardo Gaines' recipe calls for 12 ingredients, including nonstick baking spray, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, kosher salt, salted butter, natural unsweetened cocoa powder, cola, baking soda, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. The salted butter, cocoa powder, and cola are also used to make the buttercream frosting, along with powdered sugar. Next, I preheat the oven and whisk together the dry ingredients. Butter also works as an alternative to nonstick spray. Alexa Mellardo Once I have all the ingredients handy, I preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 10-inch round baking pan with nonstick spray. Then, I begin making the cake batter by adding all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, and salt to a large bowl and mixing thoroughly. After the dry ingredients are combined, I boil butter, cocoa powder, and cola in a saucepan. I used unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe. Alexa Mellardo For the next step in the batter-making process, I add salted butter, cocoa powder, and cola to a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until it's completely smooth. Then, I pour the mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and whisk until there are no lumps. In a separate bowl, I combine buttermilk and baking soda before finishing the batter. The baking soda needs to be dissolved in the buttermilk before adding it to the batter. Alexa Mellardo In another small bowl, I dissolve the baking soda in room-temperature buttermilk before pouring it into the existing batter. After whisking, I add the vanilla extract and eggs and whisk again until smooth. Then, it's time to bake. I used a cake tester to make sure the center was done cooking. Alexa Mellardo I add the finished batter to my baking pan, then place it in the oven to bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Once it's done, I let the cake cool on a wire rack while I prepare the frosting. I use a mixer to prepare the chocolate-cola buttercream. A handheld mixer will also work to make the frosting. Alexa Mellardo To make the frosting, I use my stand mixer with the paddle attachment. At medium speed, I beat the room-temperature butter until smooth. Next, I add cola and cocoa powder and mix on low until there are no lumps. Then, I scrape the bowl, add some powdered sugar, and mix on medium again before repeating the process with the remaining powdered sugar. To finish, I frost the cake and serve. I like to present the finished cake on a pedestal with fresh strawberries. Alexa Mellardo The last step is to gently spread the frosting over the cooled cake. The cake itself is rich yet incredibly moist, thanks to the cola, while the buttercream frosting serves as the perfect creamy complement to the cake's consistency. When it comes to presentation, I always like to pull out a fun cake pedestal, because I think a dessert of this caliber deserves one. I also place fresh strawberries around the cake to add a bit of color to my dessert table, and it looks absolutely decadent. A small slice does the trick to satisfy any sweet-tooth cravings. Read the original article on Business Insider

The world's leading cocoa producer is experiencing flourishing crops, attributed to unexpected rainfall in key growing regions, bringing relief to farmers.

Ivory Coast is projected to accumulate around 200,000 tons of unsold cocoa by March if the government does not lower purchase prices, according to experts and traders, despite stable export figures.

An article discusses the multifaceted cocoa crisis in Ghana, examining the interplay of debt, farmer dignity, and the crop's role as a national revenue pillar, urging a focus on structural truths over political rhetoric.

Ivory Coast's unsold cocoa stocks are projected to increase significantly if the current price dispute continues, impacting the market.

Multinational exporters and Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) have reached an agreement to resume mid-crop cocoa purchases.

President John Mahama has unveiled plans for an automatic cocoa pricing system that will guarantee farmers 70 per cent of the international market price, adjusted at prevailing exchange rates.

Ivory Coast 2025/26 cocoa arrivals down  Business Recorder

Documents suggest that conflict-of-interest allegations against Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) official Ato Boateng may be unfounded, as he reportedly transferred his interest in Atlas Commodities Ltd.

Early predictions for the 2026 Florida high school football state championships are already being made, highlighting the ongoing excitement for the sport in the state.

MrBeast has launched his Feastables chocolate brand, citing the widespread issue of illegal child labor in cocoa farms as his inspiration for creating an ethical alternative.