The value of cacao begins with people. With the hands that plant, harvest, ferment, and protect the trees that sustain life around them.
At Durca, value is the daily act of care, knowledge, and respect woven into every harvest. It is in that human fabric where true worth is created.
Then, and only then, we can ask: what does “fair” truly mean?
Fair Trade transformed how the world sees cacao. It set global standards for dignity and accountability, ensuring that farmers received recognition and fair compensation for their work. We deeply respect that legacy. It was the foundation that allowed ethical chocolate to exist.
Today, we continue to honor that principle by going beyond Fair Trade in four fundamental ways. Our goal is not only to make trade fair, but to make it human: a living system where value circulates through trust, knowledge, and regeneration.
Direct payments, long-term investment
We pay between three and six times the international cacao price depending on market context and local conditions. Each farmer receives direct payment, supported by a contractual commitment that recognizes excellence rather than volume. Alongside, Durca invests around USD 2,000 per hectare in training, tools, and agroforestry systems.
The Circle of Trust: Durca’s supply chain is built as a circle, not a line. Every relationship is direct, every contract transparent, and every decision shared. We work farmer by farmer, co-designing processes.
The Three Pillars of Mastery
Craftsmanship
The pursuit of sensory and technical excellence through continuous learning, rooted in each farmer’s unique cultural practices of cultivation and fermentation.
Regeneration
The integration of agroforestry, native species, and living soil to protect biodiversity, community land, and long-term resilience.
Traceability
The assurance that every origin, process, and name can be traced transparently from seed to bar.
Transparency by 2026
By 2026, Durca will publish its first Transparency Report, independently verified and publicly available. It will include: total hectares under regenerative management; average and highest farmer payments; total investment in agroforestry per region; volume of Fine Aroma cacao produced under traceable standards. We see transparency as the foundation of credibility. It allows our partners, chefs, and distributors to see the direct line between quality, ethics, and origin.
Durca’s vision goes beyond improving the terms of trade. Our mission is to cultivate a network of cacao farmers who work with knowledge, independence, and long-term stability.
When trust defines every stage, chocolate transforms into a force for regeneration, culture and connection.
Read next: Durca’s Vision for 2026 and beyond