28/05/2026
Something unprecedented happened at the Greater Sepik Cocoa of Excellence and Trade Expo last month. 🌍🍫
Four expert voices from across the chocolate world stood up in front of hundreds of PNG cacao farmers – many of whom had never met a visitor from overseas – and shared their knowledge, their experience, and their passion for this extraordinary crop.
Todd Masonis and Elaine Wherry, co-founders of – one of the most celebrated craft chocolate makers in the world – talked about their company, the culture of craft chocolate, and the thriving US specialty market. They even handed out samples to the crowd. 🍫
Tara Durieux from – specialists in sourcing and distributing fine cacao – spoke about quality, export logistics and exactly how PNG farmers can access the international specialty market – practical, actionable knowledge that could change lives.
Karina Makori, General Manager of Queen Emma Chocolate in Port Moresby, talked about working directly with PNG farming communities, the full range of cacao and chocolate products Queen Emma produces, and the critical importance of proper processing for achieving exceptional flavour.
And then there was Yann Gaitan, cacao sourcing expert – who spoke about cacao genetics and flavour quality with such depth and passion that when the organisers tried to move on to the next event, the crowd simply wouldn't let him stop. 👏
For much of the crowd, this was their first encounter with the international chocolate market – the people, the companies, the possibilities. And for our international guests, standing in front of the farmers who grow the beans that make their work possible was equally profound.
Weave Cacao co-founder Oonagh Browne curated this remarkable group of international experts, driven by her passion for connecting farmers directly with the specialty chocolate world. Bringing them together was a true team effort – made possible with the support of the PNG Cocoa Board, EU-STREIT, and many others. 🙏
This is what connection looks like. 🌿
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