RSF Social Finance Makes a Loan to interrupcion* Fair Trade

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) San Francisco, CA - October 13, 2011 - RSF Social Finance (RSF) is pleased to announce a new loan to interrupcion* Fair Trade, a nine year old Brooklyn-based trading company. interrupcion* was founded by Diego Gonzalez Carvajal and Rafael Goldberg, who met at NYU in 2000. They began by importing candles and berry jams to the U.S. and have since expanded to importing foodstuffs from over 2,700 small-scale farms employing more than 11,000 workers in South and Central America. In 2009, Carvajal and Goldberg were named to Businessweek’s list of America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs.

“interrupcion* is one of a growing number of businesses proving that you can make a profit and make a difference simultaneously,” says Ted Levinson, RSF Senior Lending Manager. “With their commitment to sustainable development, organic farming, and fair trade practices, interrupcion* is a natural fit for an RSF loan.”    interrupcion*’s business model seeks to improve the life quality of its producers in Latin America. They provide organic farmers with a new, direct, and branded sales channel into the U.S. market. The company delivers fair prices to producers, transparent trade conditions and product traceability, and recognized third party certification. RSF’s loan will help the company promptly pay its farmer-vendors while pacing payments from its customer base.    "Since our founding days as pioneers in Fair Trade, traditional banks have never been willing to provide us with the financing we've needed to create and grow our business.  With RSF, we've found a true partner that has both the financial power and the shared values that will support us as we grow our business to the next level," says Rafael Goldberg, *interrupcion CEO.   RSF Social Finance is the lender of choice for values-driven social enterprise in the areas of Food & Agriculture, Education & the Arts, and Ecological Stewardship. Borrowers not only receive financing to meet their capital needs through a close relationship with RSF, each becomes part of a larger community working to transform the way the world works with money. RSF is proud to support interrupcion* Fair Trade and the positive social and environmental impacts they generate.   About RSF Social Finance  Located in San Francisco, CA, RSF Social Finance (RSF) is a non-profit financial services organization dedicated to transforming the way the world works with money. Since 1984, the organization has made over $230 million in loans and $100 million in grants to non-profit and for-profit social enterprises working in the areas of Food & Agriculture, Education & the Arts, and Ecological Stewardship.   RSF's lending capital comes primarily from one thousand individuals who have invested $1,000 or more in the organization's Social Investment Fund. Investors earn a competitive return on their money comparable to a certificate of deposit while their funds are deployed to leading social enterprises. To learn more visit www.rsfsocialfinance.org.   About interrupcion* Fair Trade interrupcion* Fair Trade guarantees fair pay and safe work for the people harvesting the foods we enjoy and greater sustainability for earth we all share.  We develop and supply the highest quality, fairly traded fresh fruits and vegetables in partnership with family farmers throughout Latin America, empowering people and communities through fair trade, community investment, and development services and support.   Every interrupcion* Fair Trade product provides opportunity for communities in the developing world and an invitation for consumers to celebrate quality, nutritious foods that make a positive difference for people, our planet, and our global community. To learn more, visit www.interrupcionfairtrade.com.
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