More than two decades ago, Jacob Marlin found a small pocket of wild ancient cacao trees growing on the BFREE nature reserve in the rainforests of southern Belize. Based on the advice of cacao experts, beans from the trees were submitted for genetic testing to the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP). The results determined that these trees are one of the few pure wild cacaos known to exist on the planet. In 2016, HCP designated the beans as “heirloom fine flavor.” As a result of this discovery, BFREE began a project to preserve and propagate this rare cacao while investigating its economic, social and environmental benefits.
Join our panel of experts, led by BFREE Founder and Executive Director Jacob Marlin, as they share an update on the project, discuss its importance to the confectionery industry and address attendee questions.