It’s been a long journey to and from Cote d’Ivoire, known to some as the Ivory Coast. Having just completed the final leg of a four-day Barry Callebaut press tour featuring 10 journalists, I wanted to share my experiences and thoughts on an incredible journey.

Mondelez International has joined forces with the Fairtrade Foundation to extend the snack and confectionery giant’s Cocoa Life sustainability program to Cadbury-branded products.

The Good Food Awards, which recognizes authentic and delicious food throughout the United States, announced 291 finalists for 2017. There were 2,059 entries from 38 states and 14 categories, including chocolate, confections, honey, oils and more.

The World Cocoa Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development have announced a $12-million effort in cocoa production and services as part of the second phase of the foundation’s African Cocoa Initiative (ACI).

The Ghana-based Cocoa Abrabopa Association (CAA) last week endorsed a partnership strategy with three supply chain companies that aims to boost socio-economic development and bolster sustainable cocoa production and sales.

Four confectionery and snack giants have partnered with the Zurich-based Jacobs Foundation to improve education and support women and families in cocoa-producing communities of Cote D’Ivoire.

Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli announced last week it has achieved its goal of making its entire Ghana cocoa bean supply chain traceable and verifiable through its focus on farming initiatives.

Through an investment in The Conservation Fund’s sustainable working redwood forests in northern California, American Licorice Co., which produces Red Vines, plans to purchase 20,000 tons of verified carbon offsets to counteract carbon dioxide emissions from electricity and fuel used at its headquarters in La Porte, Ind., and offices in Union City, Calif.