Companies proud that their ingredient are 'globally sourced'?

[JEDI]

proud enough to make a point to advertise it on every box they sell.
but to me, when i see 'globally sourced', I think of global exploitation.

also, so what if you get your products all over the world (instead of 1 part of the world) and assemble it in the US?
why would that be a big deal to customers?

 

[sdifox]

No they have to say it cuz just made in america is not accurate

 

[IronWing]

Try growing cocoa in the U.S.

 

[lxskllr]

They're trying to scam you. They want credit for being in the US without *really* being US made(typically it's merely assembled). I'll give a chocolate company a bit of slack since many of the ingredients can't be made here as IronWing noted, but I don't have a lot of patience for it for durable goods. Also note, that clothes coming from third world sweatshops are labeled "imported", while quality made clothes get the exact country of origin listed(usually European). Another trick for food items is "imported from Europe", without the exact country listed in bold print. That means it's one of the second or third tier countries. They want the cred of being German, Belgian, or French without putting in the work. A more charitable view is Americans don't know geography, and putting "Latvia" on the package will get you about as far as putting the name of a small Bulgarian town on the label.

 

[IronWing]

They're trying to scam you. They want credit for being in the US without *really* being US made(typically it's merely assembled). I'll give a chocolate company a bit of slack since many of the ingredients can't be made here as IronWing noted, but I don't have a lot of patience for it for durable goods. Also note, that clothes coming from third world sweatshops are labeled "imported", while quality made clothes get the exact country of origin listed(usually European). Another trick for food items is "imported from Europe", without the exact country listed in bold print. That means it's one of the second or third tier countries. They want the cred of being German, Belgian, or French without putting in the work. A more charitable view is Americans don't know geography, and putting "Latvia" on the package will get you about as far as putting the name of a small Bulgarian town on the label.

Point of order: Bulgaria, Croatia, and Bosnia all export top shelf food. Croatian chocolate is really good.

 

[lxskllr]

I've been fairly pleased with the Bulgarian preserved vegetables I've gotten. I'm not sure I've had stuff from your other listed countries. Maybe Croatia, but I couldn't tell you what it was.

edit:
BTW, my Latvian example was real. I saw smoked sardines at biglots, and it had the European Union flag, and "Imported from Europe" in bold print. I'm thinking "Ooh... Is it German? Maybe it's Swedish? It could be French. I love French fish!" turn the can around, and find Latvia in small print. I think "Huh... Latvia, eh? Well, I'll give it a shot". They were delicious. I went back the next week and bought the other 30 tins :^D

 

[KMFJD]

Try growing cocoa in the U.S.

Pretty sure it grows in Puerto Rico and there's a growing industry in Hawaii , it's all over the DR and Haiti (DR being the #10 producer in the world , very tasty)

 

[lxskllr]

Pretty sure it grows in Puerto Rico and there's a growing industry in Hawaii , it's all over the DR and Haiti (DR being the #10 producer in the world , very tasty)

There's still the other stuff like vanilla, cinnamon, and whatnot. Hard to locally make anything decently spiced without being in the tropics

 

[KMFJD]

There's still the other stuff like vanilla, cinnamon, and whatnot. Hard to locally make anything decently spiced without being in the tropics

Yeah, we've had a global economy of sorts for centuries, it's what spurred the discovery of the new world after all.

 

[sandorski]

Back in the Old Days, Neo-Liberal Free Marketeers espoused the noble idea that Global Capitalism would enhance us all by exposing the Competitive Advantage of various Places, Persons, and/or Things. Each group of People would gloriously triumph once they discovered their Competitive Advantage and used it to acquire needed Goods/Services from other Peoples who had also discovered their Competitive Advantage. Of course that was mostly BS, but it seemed convincing at the end of the Cold War.

Also, Missouri isn't known for its' Cocoa Plantations.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Basically justifying overcharging us .... hoping customers will pay a premium.
Imported = extra shipping fees + more exotic = $$+++
USA made = manufactured to higher standard = $$++

 

[feralkid]

Basically justifying overcharging us .... hoping customers will pay a premium.
Imported = extra shipping fees + more exotic = $$+++
USA made = manufactured to higher standard = $$++

I wish them luck, but is there anyone who doesn't consider Russell Stover a 3rd rate chocolate?

 

[lxskllr]

I wish them luck, but is there anyone who doesn't consider Russell Stover a 3rd rate chocolate?

I'm not that familiar. I've never been a big fan of mixed chocolates. Looking them up on Wikipedia, they're now owned by Lindt, and Lindt makes decent stuff.

 

[sandorski]

I wish them luck, but is there anyone who doesn't consider Russell Stover a 3rd rate chocolate?

There was a Time when it wasn't. They are probably 2nd rate still, suitable as a gift. At this time with so many better options, like Lindt and many independent Craft producers, we are somewhat spoiled by better daily options. That old style of chocolate with fillings is somewhat out of fashion and difficult to enjoy on a regular basis.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I wish them luck, but is there anyone who doesn't consider Russell Stover a 3rd rate chocolate?

3rd rate? I would put it JUST a HAIR above the shit at check-out counters. It is the worst boxed chocolate I've ever had - hence why it's cheap as shit. I honestly would never gift that stuff. At minimal would be a Godiva.




Anyhow as far as produce in general, I don't know if it's just me in Texas - but anytime I look at a produce sticker there is a 95% chance I'm going to see Mexico on the sticker.

It really sucks because I've had some really shitty fruit from there. I love mango - but when I see a Mexico sticker on it I just won't touch it anymore - never fails that before they ripe they just go bad. I can only presume it's from excessive pesticides/chemicals or some shit. I got excited the other day because for once I saw some from Peru. Much better tasting.

 

[BurnItDwn]

There's still the other stuff like vanilla, cinnamon, and whatnot. Hard to locally make anything decently spiced without being in the tropics

Most of that stuff can grow just fine in a greenhouse.

 

[lxskllr]

Most of that stuff can grow just fine in a greenhouse.

Bet it wouldn't. If it were that easy, everyone would do it. The trees are especially problematic.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Bet it wouldn't. If it were that easy, everyone would do it. The trees are especially problematic.

Vanilla bean grows in greenhouses well, but, yea, I was mostly bein combative for no reason. Truth is, growning it in a greenhouse and attempting commercial scale will likely be extremely expensive. Stuff that likes nighttime temps in the 70s would require extensive heating.

Passive solar sunken greenhouses in temperate regions usually fall into the 60s or even 50s at night in the winter unless you spend $$$$ to keep them hot.

 

[JEDIYoda]

According to their own website, Ghirardelli is one of the few chocolate companies in the United States to control every aspect of its chocolate manufacturing process,[6] rejecting up to 40% of the cocoa seeds shipped in order to select what the company calls the "highest quality" seeds. The company then roasts the cocoa seeds in-house by removing the outer shell on the seed and roasting the inside of the seed, or the nibs.[8] The chocolate is then ground and refined until the particles are 19 micrometers in size.

 

[snoopy7548]

"Handcrafted in Small Batches"

https://www.theaustin.com/case-study/russell-stover-candies-confectionary-manufacturing-facilities

 

[Red Squirrel]

I imagine in a big warehouse type building that is super well insulated and tall ceiling and uses a mix of solar and wind energy you could create a decent climate to grow just about anything. Probably not financially feasible though, but if one wanted to source truly local it would be doable.

 

[lxskllr]

"Handcrafted in Small Batches"

https://www.theaustin.com/case-study/russell-stover-candies-confectionary-manufacturing-facilities

Just like mom's kitchen!

 

[sdifox]

Just like mom's kitchen!

where are the Oompa Loompas?

 

[IronWing]

Just like mom's kitchen!

Compared to Hershey's…

it is.