Denise Castronovo is one out of the few female chocolate makers in America. Her passion for ecology began with professor, Eugene Odum (“the father of modern ecology”), and a trip to Costa Rica. For her, saving the rainforest depended on creating a sustainable economy which led her to make sustainable American Craft chocolate under the brand Castronovo Chocolate. From scouting out rare and heirloom cacao beans, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, HR and sales, she’s got her hands in every step of the process. Castronovo sources the cacao beans and contributes to providing an income for indigenous people who live off of the rainforest.  The prestigious awards she has received, including 7 World Final International Chocolate Awards, and 8 Academy of Chocolate Awards from London are just the result of her lifelong commitment to both chocolate making and environmental sustainability through Castronovo Chocolate.