The new cocoa season is arriving, and in West Africa the fields are already full of promise. The red cocoa pods are ripening, signaling the start of the annual harvest. Farmers have begun the first collections, carefully gathering the beans that will later be fermented, dried, and prepared for export.

This stage is one of the most important in the cocoa value chain. The timing of the harvest, the way pods are selected, and the skill of the farmers all directly affect the quality of the final product. Early harvests set the tone for the rest of the season, ensuring both flavor and sustainability standards are met.

Our teams on the ground are closely following the process. As the red cocoa beans are collected, data is also recorded to ensure full traceability in line with the upcoming EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) requirements. This guarantees that every step of the journey — from farm to export — supports both quality and compliance.

With the first harvest now underway, we are entering an exciting phase. Each pod collected is not just a step toward production, but also a step toward building a transparent, sustainable, and EU-compliant cocoa supply chain.