Activity Description: Comercio Alternativo is an organic foods company in Costa Rica that works with small and medium farmers to sell directly to consumers and specialty food stores. The company's mission is to become Costa Rica's leading supplier of value-added organic goods to national and international clients.

Comercio Alternativo will be stimulating organic agricultural practices and providing an economically viable alternative for farmers while contributing to increased food security. By promoting organic agriculture and offsetting the use of agrochemicals, these organic farmers help satisfy growing markets for their produce, conserve and enhance biodiversity, have a positive impact on soil conservation and water regimes and at the same time improve the health of their families and local communities.

Through its partnership with New Ventures, Comercio Alternativo provides about 85 small farmers (average family size of 4.2 persons) access to a growing market and help ensure their economic sustainability in a sector where conventional farmers are becoming increasingly vulnerable to competition from large agribusinesses and imports of subsidized agricultural produce.