How Losing My Favorite Chocolate Bar Led to Just Food Hub

I used to love Green and Black organic chocolate. Then the company was bought by Cadbury and then by Kraft Foods (now Mondelēz International). Some of my favorite food companies, initially owned by their workers or by a family, get bought by Kellogg or Hain or some huge corporation, and I stop buying that product. We bemoan the loss of Annie’s to General Mills. Recently, Kellogg bought Kashi, and Colgate-Palmolive bought Tom’s toothpaste. And of course, as Vermonters, we were miserable when Unilever bought Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Ugh!

I have been frustrated by the lack of organic ethically raised foods supplied by companies that are not owned by major corporations. Each time we find a new product that looks good, I look up who owns it. I look up their mission. I want to make sure that what I buy aligns with what I believe.

What if there was a company that

• Fights racism?
• Pays farmers an authentic fair-trade price, unlike companies that greenwash business-as-usual purchases, calling them “fair trade”?
• Works with worker coops around the world, supporting Black and Brown farmers to educate their children, support women, and ensure clean water for all?
• Delivers products to Americans without going through the corporate food chain?
• Supports small and family farms?
• Promotes organic food?
• Combats climate change?

There is such a company. Just Food Hub was formed to support the mission of Equal Exchange, to support the concept of truly ethically sourced food.

But how can we support Equal Exchange in Vermont? We came up with the notion of buying Equal Exchange products at wholesale, selling their exemplary foods to Vermonters at retail, and giving all the profits to local organizations. At this moment in time (July 2025), we have donated to more than 80 organizations and have raised more than $140,000 for farmers and organizations.

So now, I very much enjoy Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate Bar. I have a square or two every night after dinner. I know I’m eating food that was sourced ethically from a company that shares my values.