Nelfi Altagracia García (Dominican Republic): from five women selling door to door to a business powering its community

In the rural community of Las Lajas, in the Dominican Republic, Nelfi Altagracia García has created more than just an artisanal chocolate business. Through Chocolala, she has helped create opportunities for women, strengthen local livelihoods, and promote community development.

As social worker with a degree in Business Administration and technical training from the National Institute of Technical and Professional Training, Nelfi has long been committed to community causes and women’s inclusion. She founded Chocolala as part of a collective effort led by rural women seeking economic independence without having to leave their families and communities behind.

The initiative began in 1990, when five women from the former Ana Idalia Navarro Mothers’ Club started producing artisanal chocolate and selling it door-to-door. At that time, opportunities for women in rural areas were limited, often forcing them to leave their homes to work as domestic workers in larger cities. The modest income generated by chocolate production allowed the women to support their families without being separated from their children.

Over the years, the initiative evolved into Chocolala, a women-led agro-industrial enterprise that produces artisanal cocoa products using the Ispaniola cocoa variety, known for its fruity flavor and lower acidity. The company also diversified its products to include traditional corn-based gofio and expanded its operations thanks to partnerships and technical support from the Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Caribbean Export.

Today, Chocolala employs about 20 people, most of them women, and works closely with local cocoa producers. The company has also developed an Ecological Trail, an agrotourism initiative that allows visitors to explore the cocoa plantations and learn about chocolate production, while generating additional income for the community.

For Nelfi, the entrepreneurial spirit is deeply linked to resilience and inclusion. She continues to advocate for greater support for rural entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of partnerships, financing, and collective determination to build sustainable businesses and stronger communities.

Nelfi Altagracia García has presented her enterprise during the Caribbean Agrifood Business Session n°20, organised by IICA and COLEAD, and aimed at showcasing the innovations and successes of Caribbean farmer-led businesses and small and medium enterprises. You can access the business profile of Chocolala here.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.