ForesTrade Opens Indonesian Facility

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.—ForesTrade Inc. opened a new state-of-the-art, organic- and ISO 9000-certified processing facility in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Developed in a strategic joint venture between ForesTrade and its Indonesian essential oils processor, the 40,000- square-foot facility should be online in March, processing and warehousing organic tropical spices, essential oils and CO2 supercritical spice extracts. The facility was certified organic in compliance with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), IFOAM and EU2092/91 standards; has a comprehensive Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan in place; includes processing equipment build to spec; features a solar drying system for processing spices; and uses renewable energy.

Fred Johnson, the new chief executive officer (CEO) at Fores Trade (www.forestrade.com), said the facility will permit the company to remain competitive in the growing global market for organic spices and essential oils. Further, Lucia Lie, director of PT ForesTrade Indonesia, noted the new operation incorporates green technologies to minimize its environmental impact.