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ForesTrade Inc. is a product development and trading company specializing in certified organic and sustainably harvested spices, essential oils, and coffee from Guatemala and Indonesia.
The company's sourcing philosophy is to engage existing farmers in shade-grown, organic production so they earn income while preventing further degradation to buffer zones near national parks.
In 1999, Verde Ventures provided ForesTrade with a $200,000 loan plus an equity option to purchase a percentage of shares in ForesTrade. Funds were used to purchase products from conservation-oriented farmers in the buffer zones of protected areas in Sumatra, Indonesia.
ForesTrade provides each of its farmers with direct price incentives and access to affordable credit and extension services. In exchange, the farmers commit to no hunting and no new land clearing, practice shade cultivation and organic production, and establish on-farm protected reserves.