I received a sample of Gather Chocolate from Harbor Sweets for the purpose of this review. All writing and opinions are my own.
If you have been lucky enough to sample chocolates from Harbor Sweets, you know that they are some of the best (and they are locally made in Salem!). Today they are launching a new mission-driven line of chocolates– Gather. Gather chocolates were developed to raise awareness of the pollinator plight and to help fund efforts to save honeybees.
About Harbor Sweets
Harbor Sweets began back in 1973 in Ben Strohecker’s basement, and forty years later it’s a bustling sweet shop owned by Phyllis LeBlanc. Located in Salem, Massachusetts, Harbor Sweets produces delectable hand-crafted chocolates (still using wooden paddles and copper kettles!) in its original historic brick building.
The most popular chocolate lines at Harbor Sweets include the boxed Classics, featuring Sweet Sloops® (each year more than 2 million are made!), Dark Horse Chocolates, and Salt & Ayre. Along with making delicious chocolates, the company helps to support the local arts by featuring the works of local artists in its gift boxes and other promotional materials.
The Pollinator Plight
It’s no secret that honeybees are in dire straits. According to a 2014 USDA report, pesticides and parasites have resulted in a 44% loss of honeybee colonization in one year alone (and the second highest annual loss in the lass 10 years)! Honeybees are a crucial part of the country’s agriculture, and without them, we will have no food system. In fact, honeybee pollinators add more than $15 billion to the U.S. agricultural economy.
To help the plight of the honeybees, Harbor Sweets has teamed up with the Pollinator Partnership, a 501 (c)(3) that helps to raise awareness of the perilous situation of the honeybees and to find ways to prevent future colony losses. The result of this partnership is the Gather chocolate line.
Gather Chocolates
Packaged in a golden honeycomb shaped box, Gather chocolates feature six different flavors (all honey-infused) including three truffles (Caramelized Honey, Pomegranate Molasses and Sour Cherry) and three covered dark chocolates (Cashew Caramel, Coconut Cluster and Sesame Crunch). They can be found at gift shops, specialty food stores and online. They retail for around $12.50 for a six-piece box and $18.50 for a 12-piece box.
After sampling each of the six DELICIOUS chocolates, I determined that my favorite is the cashew caramel. Cashews and chocolate are two of my favorite food loves, so combining them along with caramel was a sure win! In truth, they are all delightful, and I would be happy to sample any flavor!
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