May 31/Mount Olive, N.J. /PRNewswire -- Mars Chocolate announced it has made significant progress in just three years toward fulfilling its 2009 pledge to purchase its entire cocoa supply from certified sustainable sources by 2020. The company stated that it had met its 2011 goal of purchasing 10% of its total cocoa supply as certified sustainable, and in 2012, it will exceed its original target of 20%, making it the largest user of certified cocoa in the world. Based on current buying arrangements, the company projects that it will purchase nearly 90,000 tons of certified cocoa.
Mars believes certification is the best tool industry has to support effective extension services to reach as many of the world's 5 to 6 million cocoa farmers as possible and provide them with the material support and organization they need to be successful.