2010 - 06 - 06

Chocolate prices anything but sweet

VIDEO: Chocolate prices anything but cheap

Bill Sarris of Sarris Candies in Canonsburg says cocoa beans are harder to find, and that cocoa bean prices are up 300 percent. Factor in bad weather, and unrest, in places like Africa.

“These things are happening right there in the cocoa fields, and about 30 percent of the stuff comes from the Ivory Coast and cheap jerseys other places in Africa,” said Sarris.

So it’s hit home to chocolate makers all around the country, who say there’s not much they can do about the rising costs. Companies say prices are rising about 70 percent for the Halloween season, and will continue to go up through next year.

Add to that the fact that more http://www.cheapjerseys11.com/ countries around the world are buying chocolate, raising its demand.

“Everyone is eating more chocolate and they’re taking up the beans,” said Sarris.

And at the same time, ingredients like milk and sugar are costing more.

“Every commodity that we use now the price has basically doubled in the last two years,” he said.

But the world needs its sweet fix. Pittsburgh needs its chocolate version of the giant yellow duck.

And the question will always remain, if prices continue to rise Will it even matter to most?

“Candy goes a long way to please a lot of people, so no matter what happens with prices, I think everyone will still be smiling when they eat chocolate,” said Sarris.