We did all of our work in Peru through 2019 through our US based non-profit organization Center for Amazon Community Ecology. In order to empower Peruvians to carry forward this work in their country, we established Amazon Ecology (Peru) as a non-profit group to carry out artisan trainings and community support and created the company Garza Viva to buy crafts from our partners, build up a domestic market and export the products to the US and other international markets.
Earlier this month, Garza Viva received important recognition of its progress when it was granted the Marca Loreto - the official brand of the Department of Loreto - the largest region in Peru and home to the largest area of the Peruvian Amazon.
Garza Viva followed a detailed process to obtain this Loreto Brand license for crafts. The first stage involved proving it was a legal company, submitting samples of the crafts we sold, and demonstrating our relationships with our partner artisans and communities. Government officials next inspected our store in Iquitos and further evaluated the quality of our crafts. Andrea Isuiza, our Garza Viva administrator handled the whole process that included filling out numerous forms, getting city permits, and conducting one final interview to get approval for the license.
The Marca Loreto was given to representatives of diverse Loreto-based companies and entrepreneurs at a ceremony attended by Loreto's regional governor, the mayor of Iquitos, and director of the Loreto Brand.
The license gives Garza Viva the right to use the brand for two years. Its benefits include officially recognizing the quality of our products and certifies they were genuinely made in Loreto. This seal can increase their appeal and prestige at local, national, and international levels and create opportunities to participate in national and international events and fairs to increase visibility and sales. The association with the Loreto Brand can also strengthen Garza Viva's reputation, generate trust among customers and business partners, and promote the sustainable economic development of the artisan communities it supports.
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