Pollinating cocoa crops: a behind-the-scenes look at a human pollinator's job
Mars Wrigley maintains a cacao greenhouse in Davis, CA for cocoa crops.
Candy Industry Senior Editor Liz Parker was recently able to connect with Ashley Duval, senior scientist, Mars Wrigley, to chat about her job, which includes pollinating cocoa crops by hand—all to ensure cocoa remains sustainable and consumers have enough chocolate for years to come.
Day-to-day, Duval works with her team to optimize and innovate in the cocoa nursery. She and her team maintain a 30,000 square feet of cacao greenhouses for research and breeding, which includes pollinating flowers of the cocoa tree by hand to produce the next generation of cocoa trees to help farmers thrive.