Hershey's Moves to Mexico

After decades of making chocolate in the U.S.A., Hershey's is going south of the border to save (What else?) money.

Normally I don’t like to talk about products that AREN’T made in the U.S. but instead prefer to promote those that are. However some recent disturbing news has changed my mind. It seems that Hershey’s, once a staple of American industry, has already closed several plants in the U.S. and moved their chocolate production to Mexico. (I’m sure founder Milton Hershey is spinning in his grave because of this UnAmerican decision.)

Representatives at the 113-year-old company have described the plant shutdown as part of a “global supply-chain transformation.” Overall, about 3,000 of Hershey’s 13,000 workers will lose their jobs, including as many as 900 in the company’s hometown of Hershey, Pennsylvania. By 2010, Hershey says, the moves will save shareholders as much as $190 million annually. Well isn’t that thoughtful? Reward the shareholders, punish the workers. Hey, it’s becoming the American way these days. Money first, then people. (Suzie Orman would not be happy.)

While I have not been a Hershey’s fan for many years because they have added so much wax and oils to their products that it no longer tastes like chocolate, I still would like to see the jobs stay in the founding country.

Americans should boycott anything Hershey’s, including Cadburys. Instead, buy good organic chocolate that doesn’t contain wax, chemicals or added oils.

Here are some American-made (and healthier) chocolates I recommend:

Ghirardelli Chocolate.

Incorporate in 1852, the company has made its premium chocolate at a factory in San Leandro, CA, since 1967. Though not organic, Ghirardelli is one of the few companies in America that controls the entire chocolate manufacturing process, from cocoa bean to finished product. And it is the oldest American chocolate maker too.

You can buy Ghirardelli chocolates at your local grocery store, drug store, mass-merchandise store, specialty store, department store, and specialty shops.

Find the nearest store with Ghirardelli products at www.ghirardelli.com.

Sweet Earth Chocolates.

100% made in the USA. And a bonus – it’s fairtrade and organic!

Order these delicious chocolates online at www.sweetearthchocolates.com

Thompson Candy.

Since 1879, Thompson Candy has been making premium quality chocolate in the USA. Today it is made in Meriden, Connecticut.

www.thompsoncandy.com/

Dagoba Organic Chocolate.

Dagoba’s fairtrade and organic chocolate factory is located in Ashland, Oregon.

Find their products in health food stores or order online at www.dagobachocolate.com

I know there are a lot of independent chocolate makers in the US, but the above mentioned companies are those that employ a sizable amount of people and offer good jobs with benefits. If you can buy locally made chocolates that employ people in your area, that is even better for your community.

Smart Girls Who Surf Suncare Products

Safe products manufactured in the U.S.A. -- And highly recommended by Katy, a surfer and mother, in Wilmington, NC!

"Benzophenone. Disodium EDTA. Padimate O."

Do these words sound scary to you? Chances are they are ingredients in your sunscreen.

Ironically, as sunscreen use has increased, so have the incidents of skin cancer and melanoma. This has lead many scientists to conclude that the chemicals in sunscreen are more harmful to our skin than the rays of the sun.

On a quest to find a healthy alternative to potentially dangerous commercial sunscreens, a concerned mother of a California surfer started Smart Girls Who Surf, a natural skincare company based in Laguna Beach, California.

The company creates only earth-friendly products that nurture the skin and protect the environment without using toxic chemicals or synthetic preservatives. All of their sunblocks, lotions, conditioners, and soaps are free of parabens (preservatives) and chemicals.

While the majority of suncare products on the market today have harmful chemicals that pollute our waters and are dangerous to our health, Smart Girls Who Surf has developed “Clean Screen” sunblocks. These products are completely natural, loaded with antioxidants, water-resistant and won’t sting the eyes.

All of their products are manufactured in an FDA-approved facility in the U.S.A. Their two product lines, Smart Girls Who Surf and Surf-Vival are tested on surfers and parents, not animals. How smart is that?

Learn where you can buy the products at smartgirlswhosurf.com/

Living Tree Community Foods

Berkley, California, company makes its "living" foods in the U.S.A.!

I really like the idea of eating “living” foods. (In other words, foods that haven’t been processed or cooked to death at high temperatures.)

Living Tree Community Foods based in Berkley, California, makes a lot of great foods including raw nut butters, coconut oils, dried fruits and so much more. They even offer organic pumpkin seed butter and hemp seed butter. Now, you don’t find those at your everyday grocery store! However, these Living Tree products and many others are available either online or in your local health food store.

And you don't have to wonder where these products are made -- all Living Tree products are made in California! Guaranteed.

The company has been manufacturing organic food in California since 1979. Wherever possible, they buy ingredients from family farmers. Their pistachios, calymirna figs, mission figs, dried peaches, apricots, nectarines, medjool dates and halawi dates all are grown by family farmers in California.

Check out their delicious and nutritious American-made products at Living Tree Community Foods.