Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker began with a dying man that wanted to change his life. In 1989, a man by the name of Robert Steinberg was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma with only a 50% chance of survival. He was a physician at the time, but this diagnosis caused him to change his life. Being a physician would be too time-intensive along with his medical treatments, so he decided to switch careers. Among other things, Steinberg became fascinated with food, and in 1993 he toured a chocolate company in France. After the tour, Steinberg asked for an internship where he studied chocolate for two weeks. John Scharffenberger was well-known at the time for being in the wine business with his winery, Scharffenberger Cellars. After his internship, Robert Steinberg ran into John Scharffenberger, who was looking for a new business opportunity as he was selling his winery. Steinberg offered Scharffenberger …show more content…
The company understands that trees are more sustainable, given the fact that they can actively produce crops for 25-30 years, while most other annual crops can only last about three years. The company also is aware that growing cacao encourages biodiversity since birds and other animals can live in the rainforest canopy layers above the cacao trees. Scharffen Berger understands how important cacao is in rainforest biodiversity, so they work with their bean suppliers to make sure they are practicing sustainable growing practices. In addition to this, Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker is Rainforest Alliance Certified. The Rainforest Alliance is a nonprofit organization that “trains farmers in some of the world’s most vulnerable landscapes to farm in a way that conserves forests, protects streams and rivers, nurtures soil health, and boosts crop yields.” Scharffen Berger partnered with The Rainforest Alliance in 2010, and as of 2012, they have been Rainforest Alliance