This young farmer in Belize's Toledo district is holding an open cacao pod. The seeds within are used to make chocolate.

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Families working with Sustainable Harvest International's programs in southern Belize are growing Cacao in multi-story shade forests. These forests protect soils and provide a home for wildlife. In fact, we find that aprox. 85% of the birds that have left deforested areas are returning to these "forest gardens." Cacao is a valuable cash crop that enables the families working with SHI's programs to increase their incomes while protecting the environment. SHI's local extensionists provide families with materials and training in techniques like pruning which can increase cacao production by as much as 70%.