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According to the International Cocoa Organisation, Venezuela produced 16,200 tonnes and exported 7,400 tonnes during the October 2003 to September 2004 'cocoa year'.
That represents about 0.5 per cent of the world's 3.5m tonnes annual output. Industry experts say Venezuela has other advantages besides quality. Its plantations have escaped Witches' Broom,
a disease that affects cocoa trees and severely damaged last year's harvest in Brazil.
The cacao trade in Venezuela, which dates from the 1500s, was once vital to the country.
Exports burgeoned throughout the 17th century, and, by the beginning of the 19th century, the country was producing half the cacao in the world.
The world's chocolate gourmets are looking to Venezuelan beans.
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