Barry Callebaut names chef Francisco Migoya as USA Cacao Barry Ambassador

Migoya’s role will be as a champion for sustainable cocoa practices and work with Cacao Barry and the Cocoa Horizons Foundation to educate chefs and continue raising awareness on sustainability throughout the cocoa industry worldwide.

The Cocoa Horizons Foundation is an impact-driven programme focused on cocoa farmers prosperity and helping to build self-sustaining farming communities that protect nature and children. worldwide.

Migoya, head chef at Modernist, said realized his passion for the kitchen at the age of 16, and has spent his career dedicated to confectionery, and is recognized as one of the top pastry chefs in the US.

In 2016 he was exposed to the realities of unsustainable cocoa production, such as deforestation and child labour, while visiting cocoa plantations in Peru with Cacao Barry. Since then, he’s been committed to positively impacting cocoa growers.

Mission

Migoya said he fully supports the mission of the Cocoa Horizons Foundation and its goals to eradicate child labour, lift cocoa farmers out of poverty, eliminate deforestation, and become carbon positive by 2025.

“Being a Cacao Barry Ambassador not only means enthusiastically supporting the high-quality chocolates that I’ve used for years, but being part of something bigger through the Cocoa Horizons partnership, with an emphasis on promoting sustainable practices​,” said Migoya. “It’s breathtaking how much progress the Cocoa Horizons Foundation has made, and even more so how much work still needs to be done. I’m honoured to be a part of this organization and the initiative to create a 100% sustainable cocoa industry​.”

Cacao Barry also confirmed it had already met its goal of sourcing 100% sustainable cocoa this year and said with Migoya’s commitment, it will continue to create impact through the Cocoa Horizons Foundation, a non-profit organization supported by the brand and the Barry Callebaut Group that focuses on improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities through the promotion of sustainable, entrepreneurial farming, improved productivity, and community development.