The naturalco company came into being certainly out of my love of all things vanilla. It also came out of my great respect for the people who work the land on our behalf and out of a desire to improve conditions for them and our earth. I wanted to acknowledge the incredible amount of time and labor required in the growing and processing of vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and other agricultural products that we often take for granted in our modern world of abundance. And I wanted to introduce the farmers and laborers who grow these products so that these delicious commodities would mean more to us than simply our morning cup of coffee, the candy bar at afternoon break, or a vanilla ice cream cone. As many of you know, the tropics are endangered due to clear-cutting of forests, the introduction of grazing animals, and poor land and water management. This has LED to a change in the climate, something that affects all of us, no matter where we live. By purchasing natural, consciously grown products we provide more economic opportunities for people living in the tropical band on either side of our Equator. Education about sustainable agriculture and environmental protection, along with the financial support to implement these methods, will help to slow down the devastation now occurring in the tropics. The combination of economic opportunities and education can affect positive change that will benefit us all. The mission of The Vanilla. Company is to further the expanding renaissance of vanilla. The goal is to bring vanilla out of the cupboard and onto the table along with other condiments used daily. By offering information and affordable, carefully chosen products, we create more demand for vanilla. As The Vanilla. Company turns a profit, an educational fund will be established for native vanilla growers