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Post by doclogic77 on Apr 2, 2010 12:37:50 GMT -5
I am wondering where you can obtain high quality bulk cocoa beans...500-2000 pounds for reasonable prices. Any ideas?
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Post by Brad on Apr 2, 2010 22:12:25 GMT -5
Doc;
While it may seem large to most readers in this group, your inquiry into less than a metric ton (2100lbs) is far from "bulk" as far as the cocoa industry is concerned. In fact, to put it in perspective, most co-ops that sell cocoa beans consider a single metric ton so small they just laugh at it. (Personally I've been laughed at and hung up on many times early in my cocoa research path).
What you need to remember, is that cocoa is an agricultural product of a third world country. Most co-ops that sell cocoa, sell it to LARGE companies, brokers, and their agents, in magnitudes of MILLIONS of lbs (some even on a monthly basis). With that in mind you can quickly see that what you and I may call bulk, is nothing more than a drop in their bucket, and more of a hassle than it's worth.
Your best bet is to make contact with growers, and do deals with them directly. There is a lot of incentive on their part to do business with you, because you can pay them market prices which is often much more than they'll get by selling their beans to a local co-op, or large manufacturer.
In my ventures, I've managed to purchase from individual growers, AND a couple of brokers who deal in very rare and very expensive cocoa.
One grower you may be able to do business with is a gentleman by the name of Jim Lucas. He's in Brazil, and produces a fabulous forastero/criollo mix. His email address is cacaufarmer@yahoo.com.
I hope that with this insight in mind you can find what you're looking for.
Brad.
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Post by doclogic77 on Apr 3, 2010 13:33:30 GMT -5
Thank you very much Brad...that is very helpful.
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Post by Brad on Apr 3, 2010 19:06:56 GMT -5
Doc;
One other thing: John Nanci (owner of this site) also sells in larger quantities. The prices are reasonable from him as well, keeping in mind that you're not going to get "market prices" for the smaller quantities you are looking for, and most likely you'll get much better quality.
The term "reasonable" when it comes to pricing in this industry is very subjective. In any case be prepared to pay most likely 1.5 - 2.5 times market prices for less than a ton of cacau - with 2.5 being for higher quality beans such as Sur De Lago, Caranero Superior, Ocumare, and so forth.
Cheers.
Brad.
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Post by doclogic77 on Apr 4, 2010 14:35:06 GMT -5
Thanks...I will be sending John an email.
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