The Gerbi Family is descended from Italian immigrants who settled in the Selva Central, or upper rain forest, over a century ago. Moises, a coffee farmer and outdoor guide, learned about tree planting from his grandfather and uncles and has begun a reforestation project aimed at bringing back native species to the valley where he and his neighbors reside. Daniel has spent the last several weeks collecting and propagating hundreds of seeds from the Quina Quina and other trees that once covered these hillsides. He and Moises are building a collection of seedlings that will be transplanted once the rainy season arrives early next year. Their hope is that the seeds they have started will one day mature into full-size specimens that will shade the coffee plants, provide habitat for wildlife and protect the water shed.

Jose is the founder of Chanchamayo Highland Coffee, a fair trade exporter of roasted coffee, fruit juices and other rain forest products to Europe. He intends to provide a sustainable source of income to the hundreds of families that grow his raw materials -- tropical fruits and coffee beans -- using certified organic methods. But he also wants to provide full-time employment to the dozens of workers who transform them into finished products. Brooke has spent the last several weeks helping to prepare the marmelades and juices that bear the Chanchamayo Highland label, serving the customers who visit the tasting room and meeting the farmers who live nearby. She has helped to redesign the tasting area to better highlight the local products and has begun helping the company prepare for its U.S. debut at a fair-trade product expo next year.