A steady rise in the price of cocoa beans over two years became a rocket in March, with futures contracts more than doubling to reach a level twice as high as the previous record. It’s a progression that has its literal roots in small West African farms, but also involves climate change and the intricacies of the futures market. The latest surge has been driven in part by the kind of financial turmoil that can happen when commodities rise so fast that they overwhelm strategies meant to protect against volatility. Panama is big on cocoa growing and of course is famous locally for their home made chocolate.