If you love ethically sourced chocolate, the Central Coast State Parks online shop is the place to scroll over to. Your purchase directly supports the interpretive and educational opportunities provided in your local State Parks. There are 9 different flavors to choose from, all catered to some of the Central Coast’s unique parks and animal species so go check them out!
Inspiration Behind the Cocoa
Since he was a young boy, Ben Taylor, owner of Mama Ganache, loved exploring the Central Coast State Parks. He has fond memories of escaping the Central Valley to run around Montaña de Oro with his grandparents. So when CCSPA executive director Kristin Howland asked to partner in creating Central Coast State Park chocolate bars, he said his immediate answer was yes.
“I was excited to work with [CCSPA] because of what they stand for,” Taylor said. “It goes along with who we are as a company as well.”
The family-owned business is dedicated to creating organic, fair trade, ethically sourced, vegan friendly, handmade and poured on site chocolates. Just as CCSPA gives back to nature and the community, Taylor said, so does Mama Ganache.
The initial envision for the Central Coast State Park chocolate bars began over a year ago when Ben and Kristin met-up to plan flavors and designs. There was a lot of “figuring new things out,” he said, but eventually it all came together and the envision was reality.
Tiffany Miller, a graphic communication alumni of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, offered to create the design for the wrappers. Miller is both an artist and nature lover, now based in San Francisco, where she works as a creative project manager on a design team at Dropbox. She helped CCSPA to individualize each chocolate bar with her skills and knowledge of print and design and create unique offerings in the inside of each wrapper.
The chocolate bars not only satisfy sweet tooth cravings but help to tell a story about our Central Coast State Parks. So if you love ethically sourced chocolate, head to our shop to choose from 9 different flavors (The Rock, Mountain of Gold, Oak Park, Elephant Seal, Monarch, Rattlesnake, Sea Otter, Snowy Plover, and Trail Mix).
Now through May 15th, shipping will be free if you use the code LUVPARKS. And if you want to try them all, go for it! Just be sure to enter the coupon code TRYALL9 for an additional 10% off your purchase of any combination. Don’t forget to look at the inside wrapper for a little more information about the State Parks and their unique offerings.