The Dominican Republic, situated in the West Indies, occupies the eastern five-eighths of Hispaniola, sharing the island with Haiti. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, it boasts a tropical, maritime climate. The country's diverse mountainous terrain, including the highest peak in the West Indies where frost occurs, results in significant climatic variation. It features the most diverse climate zones among all Caribbean islands, encompassing subtropical highland, oceanic, and hot semi-arid climates, in addition to the typical tropical savanna, monsoon, and rainforest climates of the region. Trade winds from the Atlantic blow steadily, maintaining an average annual temperature of 25°C. The country is a key player in the cocoa industry, ranking as the world’s 10th largest producer and the leading producer of organic cocoa, accounting for 60% of its export volume. Over the past decade, cocoa production has surged by 322%, with authorities aiming to double current export levels in the next decade. Approximately 150,000 hectares are already dedicated to cocoa cultivation by over 30,000 registered farms. The country's cocoa is highly esteemed internationally, with 40% of the national production eligible for the "fine" categorization.