Hugo van der Goes, vice president commercial, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate; Jeff Rasinski, director of commodities and corporate procurement, Blommer Chocolate Co.; and John Zima, director of sales, ADM Cocoa weigh in.

Unlike the doomsday date (Dec. 21, 2012) posed by the cyclic end of the Mayan calendar that some interpreted as the end of the world, the year 2020 has much more credibility as a valid deadline. In fact, it could very well represent the end of cocoa and chocolate as most consumers know it.

Current crop numbers show a two million metric ton gap in the amount of sustainable cocoa needed by 2020 and the amount currently produced.

Julianne Taylor has been hired as Blommer Chocolate Co.’s new research and development technologist.

GrowCocoa — a sustainability effort recently established by Blommer Chocolate Co. and supply chain manager Olam International — will help farmers do exactly what its name asserts: grow cocoa.

Blommer Chocolate Co. has hired Vince Kramer as its new quality assurance director. Kramer most recently was quality assurance director for Farley’s & Sathers.

Just one week after Blommer announced an increased commitment to its sustainability program, the company is being recognized for ongoing efforts spanning five decades.

Blommer Chocolate Co. is increasing cocoa sustainability efforts, according to an announcement made Wednesday during a media tour at its headquarters plant in downtown Chicago.