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In response to elevated buyer awareness, candy bar manufacturers are focusing on environmental sustainability issues reflecting changes in bean to bar processing practices. Many are developing increasingly successful fair trade, organic and environmentally responsible product lines. These product marketing campaigns involve not only promoting consumer health, but the health of the environment as well.

Good taste has become synonymous with good works for companies like Green & Black, Equal Exchange, Champlain Chocolate, Pure Fun, Yummy Earth and Newman’s Own. Experts note that these organic candy industry leaders are changing the image of healthy eating with better ingredients and tastier products. Higher percentages of chocolate, exotic fruits and fancy grade inclusions are expanding the market beyond simple candy bars.

Green & Black has 12 varieties in its line, Endangered Species recently debuted 5 more premium level bars to their repertoire, Champlain added truffles, Yummy Earth is launching Gummi Bears and Pure Fun is laying claim to the first ever organic candy canes just in time for the holidays. One might think with all this variety flooding the wholesale candy stores, there could not possibly be money to be made, but they are wrong. In fact, the organic food industry as a whole is booming.

According to the Organic Trade Association, in 2007, wholesale candy and snack purchases in this niche reached $1 billion. Sources at Equal Exchange say they started 2009 with a 12% gain. Sales at Endangered Species are up 121% this year. Some complain that higher prices make it tough to actually gauge whether this positive trend will continue, but the promise of big bucks is not the only benefit.

Fair Trade candy like the kind Equal Exchange makes, allows local farmers to reap some of that benefit by making a fair portion of the profits on each sale. Hillside’s Go Naturally candy is a NJ based organic brand that also promotes green living. Many consumers support environmental causes that support indigenous cultures, or locally-made products, having this manufacturing philosophy results in stronger loyalty and better sales. And although consumers find organic candy is generally more expensive than conventional, a good number believe the benefits are worth it.

Analysts agree that advertising and packaging play an important role in educating consumers about the issues. Increasingly, customers are interested in learning how their candy gets made and not just how it tastes. Candy stores that keep these desires in mind will not only do well fiscally, but present a healthy candy agenda on the forefront of the industry–one candy bar at a time.

Global warming, unsafe drinking water, poor air quality inside and outside and contaminated food supplies, those are just some of the big environmental health problems we are currently experiencing. These problems may seem very overwhelming, it may seem inevitable and unavoidable, but it is us who have all the power to prevent or fix these problems. It is us who have all the power to decrease pollution, limit our exposure, and most importantly, strengthen our bodies and environmental systems in order to resist contamination.

Decrease pollution: Try to improve your quality of life by decreasing your contribution to pollution. A good example would be to turn down the thermostat during winter time; doing so will decrease carbon dioxide emissions and also improve the quality of indoor air.

Using HVAC (Heating Ventilating & Air Conditioning ) on high levels will redistribute contaminants inside a building. To avoid using HVACs try and wear appropriate clothing for the temperature. For example, instead of turning up the heater during cold days, just wear a thick jacket in order to save electricity; you won’t just save electricity, but your body’s immune system will be strengthened and it will be trained to live in rhythm with nature.

Safe pesticides and cleaners: While it is recommended to avoid pesticides completely, if you should use them, use biodegradable and safe pesticides. When it comes to cleaning agents, you should also use biodegradable and safe cleaning agents. In cleaning your house, it is best to limit the use of chemicals to prevent contaminants from getting inside. Biodegradable products will also keep your water supplies safe for drinking.

Exposure to contaminants: If possible, try and limit your exposure to contaminants. The human body was designed to process at a specific level of contamination. Environmental health problems are the result of exposure to levels that are too high for the body to process. As it is always important to decrease levels, if there already are some contaminants present, precautions should be taken in order to limit exposure. A good method to avoid exposure to lung illness is ventilating your home. The use of a HEPA-filtered vacuum in your home will get rid of any paint led chips which will make your children safe from lead poisoning. Another way to limit your exposure to chemicals is insuring that your building materials, clothes, furniture and other products you use on a daily basis are only made of materials which do not emit chemicals. Perfume and smoke are also contaminants. A perfume-free and also smoke-free environments are protections against exposure.

Organic foods: It is always best to eat natural, organic foods, and also drink clean water and exercise in clean environments; you should always know that you are eating. There are types of fish that are caught from certain areas that have pollutants such as mercury in their tissue; this can cause some developmental problems in fetuses and children. While pesticides increase crop yields, they also increase the presence of contaminants in our water and soil. Installing a water filter system will insure that the drinking water will be clean.

Always remember that eating naturally will decrease exposure to contaminants.