2013 Americas Semi-Final Round Merit Award Recipients

This year the ICA organizers have decided to offer Merit Awards to individuals and organizations who have been given back to the chocolate community.

The 2013 Americas Round Merit Award Recipients are:

Outstanding Service to the Fine Chocolate Industry Award

Gary Guittard, Guittard Chocolate, for unique and generous behindthescenes support for fine cacao projects.

Bean to Chocolatier Award

Cynthia Leung and David Castellan,Soma Chocolate (Toronto, CA) for industryleading integrated bean-to-bar and boutique chocolate retail operations.

Innovative Chocolate Marketing Award

Sunita de Tourreil, Chocolate Garage for unique and creative support for US craft chocolate makers.

Research Award

Harold Schmitz, Senior Science Officer, Mars, Inc for unique and creative support for US craft chocolate makers.

Mott Green Memorial Award for Sustainable Cacao Cooperatives

Edmond Brown, Grenada Chocolate Company the honorary first award recognizes Edmond's work helping create a model that takes cacao farmers beyond a commodity, adding value through producing finished products.

Women in Chocolate Award

Fran Bigelow, Fran's Chocolates (Seattle, WA) for her work as a veteran chocolatier, leading the way for women working in fine chocolate.

Cacao Quality Award

Rizek Cacao CxA, Dominican Republic for their outstanding service to cacao quality and postharvest processing techniques in the Dominican Republic.