Visit our website at www.ecoenterprisesfund.com

Highlights 

Whereas usually there is a lull in activities in the dog-days of summer, it seems that this year the pace of investment and output continues in full force.  We have now financed 14 companies for a total commitment of $2.91 million.  New companies added to our portfolio this summer include Biocentinela, an organic shrimp project, and Organic Blooming, a start-up calla lily company, representing our first efforts in Ecuador.  

Andres Herrera, Investment Officer, (see picture below) presented at the World Resources Institute’s New Ventures Biodiversity Investor Forum held in June in Lima, Peru.  There have been several interesting prospects generated by this visit, and we are currently undertaking due diligence on the most promising.  In addition to those new leads, Herrera is working on a sustainable forestry project in Costa Rica, and Eugenia Villalobos, Investment Officer, is pursuing an organic coffee project there as well.  Other Fund management team members are developing a detailed social and environmental monitoring tool to help assess the impact of the Fund's efforts.

Below we present recent highlights of our portfolio companies.  For a detailed description of a company, please click on the name. 

• Belize Lodge and Excursions is open and accepting reservations.

• Don Alvaro doubled its sales of honey and apiculture supplies from 2002 to 2003.

• ForesTrade was featured in the April 2004 issue of Vermont Business Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in Vermont.

• Interforest's Forest Stewardship Council certification is in process and a Memo of Understanding with FUNDAECO, a local environmental organization, has been formalized.

• Loofah has worked to prepare farmers for the organic certification process.

• Marimex production has been strong and the company expects to begin exporting scallops by year-end.

• NatuScience's effort at diversification is showing results as the company received European orders for its new andiroba cosmetics line. 

• Noram continues sell to major customers, such as Sam’s Club, WalMart, and Comercial Mexicana.

• Sambazon appeared in The New York Times on August 4, 2004 and in The Washington Post on August 11, 2004.