> I bought an 8 oz. container of "Organic Trader Joe's Cocoa Poweder for
> drinking and baking USDA Organic" "USDA Organic."

I was not very impressed with it.

> I noticed something else. Some of the large Chain Drug Stores, Rite
> Aid in this particular case, are starting to carry more dark chocolate
> items.

Dark chocolate is increasing in popularity. If I remember aright from
the recent Forbes article, Dark Chocolate consumption has grown 11% in
the past four years, vs. a 3.9% increase in the chocolate market
over-all.

I would guess that it is due to a variety of factors. One is that older
folks prefer dark chocolate, and, combined with a "nostalgic" tendency
to pull childhood things into adulthood, has older people eating more
chocolate, and thus more dark chocolate. At the same time, increasing
numbers have been exposed to good, European chocolates, and that helps
set their tastes.

Another factor is the snob/nothing-is-too-good-for-me current in
contemporary US society. The big number in the Forbes article is that
the premium chocolate market has grown by 20% annually since 2000.
Given that, it is hardly surprising that dark chocolate is becoming
more popular.