Lourdes Paez

A passionate and long-time advocate of fair trade and Ecuadorian Cacao, Ms. Paez is currently working on a book about the fine flavor cacao which grows in Ecuador and the chocolate made out of it worldwide. She has trained as a chocolate taster and frequently gives presentations focusing on consumer education to help identify and select the right chocolate in terms of health and the environment. Co-founder and current president at the Chocolate Academy of Ecuador, non-profit organization that offers training in cacao and chocolate, and consumer education to promote dark chocolate in Ecuador.