After a fantastic day off, which included a visit to the San Luis Canopy and the Baldi Hot Springs near La Fortuna, we were back to the “classroom” with a visit to the Sr. y Sra. Ese Souvenir Manufacturing business.

The company, founded in 1964, has grown into a leading producer of souvenirs and wooden jewelry. They export products to destinations in France, Germany, Italy, USA and many others throughout the world.

Their products are crafted from wood harvested from the Costa Rican rain forests.  All pieces are molded to enhance the wood’s natural color.  The company is committed to restoring the rainforests, and Costa Rica’s green initiative.  For each tree harvested, three more are planted to replace it.  Also, all scraps from their processes are recycled to be used for other products, and all saw dust is sold to farmers to use as fertilizer.

We were guided on a tour of their manufacturing facility.  The pieces are cut, holes drilled, sanded, and polished.

Once complete the pieces are assembled by hand.

For more intricate designs, like boxes and magnets, the pieces are cut with a precision laser and computer to ensure accuracy.

The pieces are then assembled, also by hand, like a jigsaw puzzle to create the finished product.

Once complete, products undergo a rigorous quality inspection to ensure each piece meets the company’s high standards.

After our tour, we were able to shop for some for ourselves, friends, and family.  This was an interesting stop on our Study Abroad journey, which illustrated how even the simplest businesses can make a footprint in the ever-expanding global economy.