Moving to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Hershey created a recipe for milk caramals that became popular, allowing him to stay in business. Busy making caramals, he also started tinkering with chocolate, trying to create a recipe for a chocolate candy bar. He eventually sold the caramal business, and opened a chocolate factory in 1903 in the little town soon to be known as Hershey. By this point, chocolate's position as a favorite dessert, drink, and snack was well-assured, and popularity simply grew. However, the future of chocolate may well be in jeopardy.
Cocoa beans are a delicate crop, requiring high temperatures and plenty of rainfall.
Pretty much all of the cocoa grown is done so between 15 and 20 degrees of the equator. However, wars in these regions, clear-cutting of rain forests, and huge consumption puts the crops increasingly at risk. Many experts advise purchasing organic chocolate, where not only is the soil and plants being taken care of, the native populations are not being taken advantage of, for this reason. Inc. PageWise makes no representations about the content published on this site. PageWise hereby disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to this information, and user agrees that all such use is at its own risk.