Clif Bar & Co., Dagoba Organic Chocolate and NibMor are some of the most recent companies and brands to seek and receive Rainbow Alliance certification for their products.

At the Natural Products Expo West – the nation’s largest trade show in natural, organic and healthy products – the three chocolate brands and companies highlighted their new sustainability commitments and product launches in partnership with Rainforest Alliance.

“These new commitments and product launches reflect the growing recognition of the Rainforest Alliance Certified green frog seal as a global symbol of sustainability, with 500 new companies registering to buy or sell certified products in 2011,” says Alex Morgan, senior manager of sustainable agriculture at the Rainforest Alliance.

• Clif Bar & Company announced that 100% of cocoa ingredients for CLIF Bar will be sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, making the energy bar line the first in its category to commit to certification for all of its cocoa-based ingredients.
• Dagoba Organic Chocolate, which is owned by The Hershey Co., announced that its complete line of USDA Certified organic chocolate products will be made with cocoa beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.
• NibMor announced that it will expand its current offering of chocolates made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa, with the addition of Daily Dose of Dark — small chocolate squares made with 72% cocoa, perfect for snacking anytime.

Other companies already working with the Rainforest Alliance that exhibited at Expo West include: Endangered Species Chocolate, Naked Juice, Back to Nature, Seth Ellis and Justin’s Nut Butter.

— M.K.