Fruition Chocolate Works 1st to Bring Bird Friendly Cacao Smithsonian Seal to Market
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Fruition Chocolate
Dahlia Graham, Co-Founder/CEO: 845-657-6717 | chocolate@tastefruition.com
Fruition Chocolate Works 1st to Bring Bird Friendly Cacao Smithsonian Seal to Market
Shokan, New York — Catskills-based Fruition Chocolate Works, a small-batch chocolate company helmed by husband and wife team, renowned chocolate-maker Bryan Graham and Dahlia Graham, is the first to bring Smithsonian’s new Bird Friendly Cacao seal to market on their new Zorzal Eco Reserve 73% Dark Chocolate. The bar launched on Fri. Oct. 18th, at Fruition’s 13th Anniversary and Open House Tasting Event at their factory retail shop and cafe in Shokan, NY.
Fruition Chocolate Works prides itself on not just making chocolates, but creating bean-to-bar chocolate which is a multi-step process. The first, and arguably most valuable step, is sourcing, which Fruition does transparently through valuable partners such as Zorzal Cacao. Fruition makes its chocolate from organically grown, ethically-sourced cacao, where farmers are paid well above market prices. It then roasts, cracks, winnows, refines, conches, tempers, and moulds in small batches to highlight the inherent flavors of the cacao.
A few years ago Dahlia and Bryan visited the Zorzal Eco Reserve in the Dominican Republic, the world's first certified Bird Friendly cacao farm. Designated "forever wild," it will continue to be an important stop for migratory birds such as the Zorzal, or Bicknell’s Thrush. They were inspired to make this bird seed bar which features puffed quinoa, candied sunflower seeds, wild blueberries, and citrus. Zorzal states, “We are proud of our commitment to preserve biodiversity on the 1,019 acre Reserva Zorzal. On that land, our conservation efforts focus specifically on habitat restoration and climate change mitigation, community-based bird monitoring, and private reserve policy.” Fruition Chocolate Works is happy to support such a meaningful initiative.
Fruition ships worldwide and a store locator can be found on their website www.fruitionchocolateworks.com. Follow Fruition on Instagram @fruitionchocolate for updates and special release dates.
About Fruition Chocolate Works: Fruition is one of only a handful of chocolatiers in the United States producing all of their chocolate directly from the cocoa bean. Dessert Professional Magazine has recognized Bryan Graham as one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America, and the company has appeared in the pages of Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and the New York Times among others. In 2016, Fruition was awarded Best in Competition at the International Chocolate Awards World Final. Fruition has won over 75 awards to date from the International Chocolate Awards, Academy of Chocolate Awards, Chocolate Alliance Awards and Good Food Awards. Fruition Chocolate can be found in over 600 stores nationwide including Whole Foods in the Northeast, Central Market, and Zingerman's.
Photos, interviews, product samples, and press factory tours available upon request.