Fair-trade deals provide safety net for Ivorian cocoa producers Certified fair trade cocoa production is rapidly developing in Ivory Coast, the world's biggest producer of cocoa, as producers jump on the fair-trade trend. The world's No. 1 producer was whacked by a price slump, driven by oversupply and falling demand as health-conscious consumers cut back on chocolate. But some producers proudly say they are not only weathering the storm but even flourishing.