Bring your nextdoor neighbor a slice of chocolate cake. Bring your global neighbor a fairer deal.

Perhaps you've heard the refrain "Think global, act local." Have you ever considered what it might mean for cacao powder? Here's a stat for your consideration; up to 50 million people all around the world depend on cacao to earn their livelihood. The choices we make as shoppers directly impact a farmer's ability to grow sustainably, feed their families and educate their children. So, be a good (global!) neighbor and choose Fairtrade cacao powder at your local grocery store.

Where to buy cacao powder 

Every year more and more Fairtrade options are popping up on grocery shelves near you. Case in point? Check out of this shortlist of retailers that carry Fairtrade cacao powder brands.

• Walmart: Great Value Organic Fair Trade Unsweetened Baking Cocoa
• Whole Foods Market: 365 Organic Fair Trade Cacao Powder
• Target, Kroger, Sprouts and Whole Foods Market: Navitas Organics Cacao Powder
• Trader Joe's: Trader Joe's Organic Fair Trade Cacao Powder
• Costco: Volupta Organic Fair Trade Unsweetened Super Food Cacao Powder

What to do with cacao powder? Make the world's *best* chocolate cake.

Neighbors know that good things are meant to be shared, and this recipe is good stuff. It's inadvertently vegan, PLUS you can put it together right in the 8x8-inch pan where you'll bake it. It's the tried-and-true recipe that we look to whenever a cake is in order.

Busy Day Chocolate Cake

makes one 8-inch square cake

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 cup cold water

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In an 8-inch square baking pan, whisk together all-purpose flour, sugar, unsweetened cacoao powder, baking soda, and coarse salt.
3. Make a well in center of flour mixture and add vegetable oil, pure vanilla extract, white vinegar, and cold water. Whisk until well combined. 
4. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. 
5. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

*This recipe was re-printed with permission by (and much gratitude to) Lucinda Scala Quinn.

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