2022 Partner Report: Finca Elvesia

Finca Elvesia
Dominican Republic

Hurricane Fiona struck the Dominican Republic on September 18, 2022 and had a painful impact on the eastern portion of the country where Finca Elvesia is located. While the team and farm employees are all ok, the main farm lost many overstory trees that crashed down on the smaller cacao trees and destroyed them by the dozens. Many trees lost a majority of their leaves and all of their flowers. Production is expected to be almost non-existent for the next 4-6 months until the trees have recovered, and then the overall crop will take time to rejuvenate since it takes several years for newly planted trees to bear fruit.

Fortunately, the 2022 harvest, which was largely completed prior to the hurricane, was good, and the farm has strong financial support to weather the difficult period ahead.  After speaking with the team at the farm in the weeks following the hurricane, it became clear that we were not going to be able to purchase cacao from them for a while, but we committed to being the first to purchase their next available shipment as soon as it is ready.

-- Alex Whitmore, Taza CEO  

Visiting Finca Elvesia

Our most recent in-person visit to Finca Elvesia was in June 2022.

*Price based on FOB terms and equal to the negotiated fixed price or to the negotiated premium plus the world market price on the day the contract is closed

**Price the individual farmer receives for their cacao prior to its export. Taza's 2016 Transparency Report, "Let's Talk Price" provides an in-depth exploration of the topic

*** Wages are paid in local currency and are translated into USD, but are not adjusted for purchasing power or a country's cost of living. Where a range is given, wages vary based on type of work and skill and experience level. In all cases, our Partners pay employees at or above their country's minimum wage