> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 2026 AVPA Chocolates Processed at Origin Awards Preview | #PSC 239 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/2026-avpa-chocolates-processed-at-origin-awards-preview-psc-239/ - Published: 2026-10-20T21:47:20.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T23:19:46.000Z - Description: OVERVIEW: Episode 239 of #PodSaveChocolate takes a look at the upcoming announcement of the winners of the 2026 AVPA Chocolates Processed at Origin Contest. - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream ### **Timing and Links to Watch & Comment** 🗓️ This stream begins at 10:00 ****MST** (10:00 P****D**T, 11:00 M****D**T, 12:00 C****D**T, 1:00 pm E****D**T) on Friday, October 23rd, 2026. Links below to watch LIVE and to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/11/ytlogo256x256.png)](https://youtube.com/live/Ls3zM9gp6Bc?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode! Subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. [Participate/Watch on YouTube ](https://youtube.com/live/Ls3zM9gp6Bc?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-ugcPost-7518426138151370752-niCw/?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other. [Participate/Watch on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-ugcPost-7518426138151370752-niCw/?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareable [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share/1d1HXjnc88/) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). Follow [TheChocolateLife on Facebook ](https://fb.me/thechocolatelife?ref=thechocolatelife.com)to receive notifications and catch up on other content. [Participate/Watch on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1d1HXjnc88/) --- ## **Episode 239** Anyone who has been following me for any length of time knows that I am an advocate for more diversity and inclusion, not less. The specialty chocolate sector needs **more** different approaches to competitions – how they are organized, how they are judged, who they serve: and AVPA’s (the *Agence pour la Valorisation des Produits Agricoles*) is ***very*** different from the International Chocolate Awards, the Academy of Chocolate Awards. And the differences are important – and valuable – for many reasons. > One very significant difference is that entrants in this competition (there are ones for coffee, tea, and edible oils) must be member of AVPA. Another is that jurors “must be French.” (We’ll discuss what that means in practice in the episode.) In this episode I will be joined by three people who were intimately involved in AVPA’s 2026 *Chocolates Processed at Origin* competition, in advance of the awards announcement at the upcoming Salon du Chocolat in Paris. From the AVPA website: > The Chocolates processed at Origin contest is organized by the AVPA in order to recognize that cocoa-producing countries know how to develop chocolates of quality, equal and sometimes better than those made by major brands in consumer countries. > > This international contest reserved for chocolatiers or their groups (cooperatives, Denominations of Origin) for which AVPA proposes a classification that allows the expression of all the traditional tastes encountered among chocolatiers in cocoa-producing countries. [AVPA Paris Contest: Chocolates processed at the originConcours International de Chocolats élaborés à l’origine![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/58172f_5a45174d2504421ebabd4924c122042c-mv2_d_3070_3070_s_4_2-dab0f736-320f-4c33-9dfa-5431b14b521a.png)AVPA.FR![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/58172f_832e66a35c60477081e8936ef84a977d-mv2-f147d7b8-b443-45f0-9a1b-47da859509d2.png)](https://en.avpa.fr/chocolats?ref=thechocolatelife.com) My guests include: - **Maria Castro** *is an International Project Manager at AVPA. With an academic background in political science, economics and finance, she contributes to the development of AVPA’s international activities, promoting exceptional agricultural products and the producers behind them.Her work focuses on international development, cross-cultural collaboration and building partnerships that connect agricultural producers with global markets* - **Elena Kalmykova** i*s a Paris-based pastry chef and R&D consultant, trained at Ferrandi Paris, with experience in leading kitchens including Café Pouchkine, Le Pavillon Ledoyen (three Michelin stars) and Trianon Palace. Since 2020, she has been helping cafés, hotels, restaurants and food brands develop new products, refine recipes and optimize costs. Her work bridges pastry craftsmanship, product development and business strategy, with a particular interest in the future of desserts and the evolving demands of the food industry. Since 2023, she has been involved in several AVPA contests as a jury member, evaluating products in categories such as oils, teas and chocolate.* ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/10/avpaServices.jpg) Some of the services AVPA offers to its members. --- ### **Files for Downloading** [AVPA\_Where does the value stayAVPA\_Where does the value stay.pdf80 KBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/10/AVPA%5FWhere-does-the-value-stay.pdf "Download") [AVPA\_Chocolate\_Participation\_2021-2026AVPA\_Chocolate\_Participation\_2021-2026.pdf209 KBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/10/AVPA%5FChocolate%5FParticipation%5F2021-2026.pdf "Download") --- ### **Future Episodes** 🗒️ ****Tuesday, October 27th** Interview with Brad Reese --- ### **Episode Hashtags** #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) Episodes 201-300 (links to older PSC archives are in the top nav). [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) ⁉️ After a year-long+ experiment, the audio-only versions of PodSaveChocolate episodes have been taken down after an end-of-year review. There were not enough listens to continue uploading episodes and paying for hosting. ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life – Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for ****Free** to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Premium subscriptions available. ---