Valentine's Day: Climate Change Could Impact Some Of Your Favorite Treats (PHOTOS)

And you thought finding a Valentine for the 14th was hard enough. In the future, some common treats associated with February 14 could became more expensive or even scarce.

Growers of agricultural products tied to specific climatic conditions -- such as cocoa, wine grapes and coffee beans -- may see decreased yields as temperatures and precipitation rates become more extreme later in the 21st century.

Some see climate change as an imminent threat, but changes to the products listed below are not likely to ruin your Valentine's Day for several decades.

It is true that 2011 was only been the 11th hottest year on record, but global average temperatures continue to rise.

Last year was the 35th straight year "that global temperatures were warmer than normal," according to the Associated Press. 2011 was hotter than every year in the 20th century except 1998.

Below, check out a list of 7 drinks and food products that may be affected by climate change.

Comments

[Healthy Rainforest Honey]

04:57 AM on 02/15/2012

Here's a Valentine's (or other) gift that is more of a solution that a problem:

Support an African farmer to establish a beekeeping operation in an endangered rainforest and he'll carve the name of you and/or your beloved on one of his hives! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/707615021/an-enduring-gift-healthy-rainforest-honey

[Trickish Knave]

11:42 PM on 02/14/2012

Just when you thought climate change couldn't do any more harm...

[ash11111]

04:08 PM on 02/14/2012

That question should be asked the other way... what would valentines day do to our climate...

[Davidc Smith]

03:55 PM on 02/14/2012

I didn't know that hunter gather societies celebrated Valentines day. My guess is that the chemically poisoned survivors basking in the Northern Canadian tropical Jungles will share berries and roasted rodents with their lover's while saying a prayer for protection against the demon fall-out.

[nitwitsRus]

01:42 PM on 02/14/2012

i thoughts THAT
was what Valentine's Day
was for?

[frankiebarbella]

12:38 PM on 02/14/2012

interesting article in Forbes.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/02/14/a-top-german-environmentalist-cools-on-global-warming/

[grappler1987]

05:23 PM on 02/14/2012

Interesting editorial. Thanks.

[neptune2]

12:16 PM on 02/14/2012

Blatant and ineffective scaremongering !

I love it when the alarmists post stories like this one they make themselves look silly !

[Trepasky]

12:39 PM on 02/14/2012

Silly is what your post appears to represent!

[neptune2]

04:07 PM on 02/14/2012

That is your opinion !

Do you deny it is scaremongering of the most mentally challenged type ?

Do you deny that it is funny ?

[whatfreshhellisthis]

11:05 AM on 02/14/2012

WHAT WILL CLIMATE CHANGE DO TO VALENTINE'S DAY?

Huff Po, PLEASE hire some moderaters/editors who are literate!

[FrogLight316]

10:11 AM on 02/14/2012

I believe in love at first sight, There is only one special person for me to marry. Santa Claus and global warming. This threat you write about justifies all of it. Where is Santa going to set up shop?

[nellre]

10:01 AM on 02/14/2012

Millions will suffer famine and water shortages due to climate change in the very near future. Basic survival already is a challenge to people living in the Horn of Africa.

It's not the luxuries that will have the greatest impact, but the everyday stuff. Food is about to get much more expensive.

It will take a long time here in the US for it to be in our face, but the Arab Spring was at least partially catalyzed by rising food prices.

So I feel this article trivializes the real calamity that is standing in the wings.

[SallyMaclennane]

08:49 AM on 02/14/2012

Hahahahahahaha.....did I go to The Onion by mistake? Is this April Fool's Day? Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

[grappler1987]

02:38 AM on 02/14/2012

"Ghana and Ivory Coast"

Both are just north of the equator. Climate change will push the tropics further north.

[GhostOfFDR]

12:31 PM on 02/14/2012

Actually, the tropics are fixed latitudes on the Earth, but I know you meant tropical climates. But depending upon which plant there can be both requirements in hours of sunlight, moisture and soil that might not exist in the new range you are postulating. Coffee is especially picky in where it grows. It's definitely not just a temperature thing.

But that makes it fun to go into restaurants that claim to serve locally grown foods and demand to know where the coffee or the chocolate in the cake came from. I believe that Miami is the only major city in the contiguous 48 that has coffee plants within 100 miles. But it's illegal to import coffee from Cuba.

[grappler1987]

04:14 PM on 02/14/2012

Good point. Tropical climate is more precise.

[maxwells]

05:12 PM on 02/13/2012

Meanwhile, Starbucks says the following:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/16/starbucks-climate-change_n_1011222.html