I am raising funds for the Yachak Ecuador Wild Amazon Ancestral Cacao Recovery Project, a grassroots initiative led by indigenous cacao farmers in Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador. I am managing the project from the USA, working closely with my brother, a chocolate maker in Virginia, and the local cacao group. Our journey began when we traveled to Ecuador in 2024 to assist the Yachak project as part of a USAID initiative. We taught local farmers how to make better chocolate and discovered the incredible story behind their efforts.
The Yachak project is dedicated to reestablishing some of the rarest and most threatened genetic ancient cacao on Earth. Zamora Chinchipe is not only the birthplace of cacao but also the site of the oldest recorded use of cacao by humans, dating back more than 5,500 years. Today, the project is focused on creating nurseries to produce genetic clones of the few remaining ancestral mother trees, with the goal of replanting them in the forest. This work is vital for preserving biodiversity and cultural heritage, and it also offers a path to economic development for the community. These ancestral cacao varieties command top prices in the luxury chocolate market, offering hope for a brighter future.
The funds raised will directly support the creation of a new nursery project. Most of the people we are helping are poor native indigenous farmers in the Amazon, and your support will provide them with the supplies, training, and equipment they need to succeed. By sharing this project with our growing network of fine chocolate enthusiasts, we hope to build lasting connections and create new opportunities for these dedicated farmers.
This is an opportunity to help save and reestablish these rare ancient cacao varieties while supporting the farmers who are their stewards. Your contribution will help create a sustainable economic project for the future of their families and community. Please join us in making a difference—every donation brings us one step closer to preserving this unique heritage and empowering those who protect it.
The Yachak project is dedicated to reestablishing some of the rarest and most threatened genetic ancient cacao on Earth. Zamora Chinchipe is not only the birthplace of cacao but also the site of the oldest recorded use of cacao by humans, dating back more than 5,500 years. Today, the project is focused on creating nurseries to produce genetic clones of the few remaining ancestral mother trees, with the goal of replanting them in the forest. This work is vital for preserving biodiversity and cultural heritage, and it also offers a path to economic development for the community. These ancestral cacao varieties command top prices in the luxury chocolate market, offering hope for a brighter future.
The funds raised will directly support the creation of a new nursery project. Most of the people we are helping are poor native indigenous farmers in the Amazon, and your support will provide them with the supplies, training, and equipment they need to succeed. By sharing this project with our growing network of fine chocolate enthusiasts, we hope to build lasting connections and create new opportunities for these dedicated farmers.
This is an opportunity to help save and reestablish these rare ancient cacao varieties while supporting the farmers who are their stewards. Your contribution will help create a sustainable economic project for the future of their families and community. Please join us in making a difference—every donation brings us one step closer to preserving this unique heritage and empowering those who protect it.