How can small chocolate compete in the marketplace? This week on Straight, From the Source, Clay Gordon is joined by Jeff Shepherd, founder and leader of a chocolate flock in Central Point, OR - the award-winning Lillie Belle Farms. They discuss how a craft/artisan chocolate business can compete against “big chocolate” - and not only survive, but thrive and prosper. Find out how Jeff found his passion for chocolate and how he's explored everything from organic cocoa beans to added value products. This program was sponsored by White Oak Pastures

"The majority of the cocoa beans on the planet are not farmed organically." [2:22]

"We still mold and wrap our chocolate bars by hand!" [13:50]

"We're all old now so chocolate is the only drug we can all agree on!" [29:24]

Jeff Shepherd of Lillie Belle Farms on Straight From the Source

This week's discussion on Straight From the Source is all about chocolate stouts. How did they get their name? How are they made? Is there any actual chocolate used in the process? Tune in as Clay Gordon chats with beer expert and host of Fuhmentaboudit!Chris Cuzme about all things stout, and follow them as they taste a few different combinations of beer and chocolate. Later in the show, Clay checks in with Michael Cirino of A Razor, A Shiny Knife who explains his approach to chocolate as an ingredient to do fun/amazing/stupid/theatrical/tasty things with. This program was sponsored by Heritage Meat Shop

"Thanks to maillard reactions we can have the same flavors and compounds in beer as we do in food." [06:00]

--Chris Cuzme on Straight from the Source

Askinosie Chocolate is an 8 person company and does more for ethical sourcing than most. Today's guest is Shawn Askinosie, founder of Askinosie Chocolate out of Springfield, MO. Clay and Shawn met back in 2005 in October in Ecuador and four months later they were in Mexico and Venezuela buying beans. Tune in and learn about some of the incredible initiatives Shawn has started to help sustain cacao farmers, and find out why he thinks charity is not enough. Hear how he grew his small company and what plans he has for the future of Askinoise. This program was sponsored by Heritage Foods USA. For a special discount on Askinosie Chocolate visit their store and use discount code "Heritage".

"My business is not about charity...what we want to do is build something that's sustainable and that's related to the problems so that the people who are impacted by it are working on it themselves in partnership with us. It's not a chairty." [14:30]

"When you're buying something that's the best of it's category in the world for $8-10, it's an affordable luxury!" [25:45]

--Shawn Askinosie of Askinosie Chocolate on Straight From the Source