From the Fund Manager
Dear Friends,
In the market’s ever-changing uncertainty, we have been reflecting on our investments. A recent team visit to Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure Park reminded us of what sets us apart: it’s possible to touch, taste, smell and get up close and personal with the products in which we have invested. Whether it’s a tour through Veragua, sitting on Suma Pacha’s garden furniture purchased at Home Depot, drinking a Sambazon Açai smoothie from Whole Foods or gazing at organic calla lilies from Organic Blooming, EcoEnterprises Fund invests in tangible products that bring a bit of nature into our hands. There’s nothing more dependable than nature and its products.
All of our companies, and the products and services they offer, encompass a myriad of stories. On a trip to Veragua, you might meet Jose, the tour guide who had lived near La Amistad International Park his whole life but didn’t learn about this environmental treasure until Veragua offered him a job and training with Costa Rica’s venerable INBio (National Institute of Biodiversity), or Eliseo, the local hunter turned snake keeper who traded in a life of poaching for one of stable income. A trip to The Nature Conservancy’s BOLFOR II reserve in Bolivia will bring you to the doorstep of Suma Pacha’s sourcing and production facilities where six local communities are working towards Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification in partnership with Suma Pacha. A chat with Terrafertil’s General Manager, David Bermeo, will reveal his pride at being the first company to introduce organic gooseberries to Ecuador. The excitement he conveys on behalf of the buyers, producers and the government is palpable. We have many more stories and products to share, but encourage you to check out our website for those you can see, touch and taste on your own.
By investing in products sustainably derived from nature, EcoEnterprises Fund ensures long-lasting impacts for our companies as well as our legacy. As many of you may know, we were conceived as a 10-year program, pioneering an innovative approach to conservation. We are currently at the tail-end of this effort. However, we are using our successful track record in the field to plan the launch of our next generation fund in late 2009. We are proud of the mark we are leaving with each of the companies we have invested in, knowing they have a strong basis for growth because of EcoEnterprises Fund’s investment and technical support.
We thank you for your continued interest in EcoEnterprises Fund, and encourage you to experience the tangibility of our portfolio on your own. Consider it a way of “kicking the tires” on our sustainable investments and let us know what you think.
All my best,
Tammy E. Newmark
Fund Manager
tnewmark@tnc.org
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The team enjoys the beauty of Veragua Rainforest.
Team photo (at top) courtesy of EcoEnterprises Fund. Product photo (goldenberries) courtesy of company marketing materials from Terrafertil.
