On Wednesday, June 15, 2016, doTERRA International Executives and Sales Leaders inaugurated its new distillery located in Bulgaria. Esseterre Bulgaria EOOD (Esseterre) is a farming and distilling operation headquartered near the Black Sea resort town of Varna, with its main production center in the nearby industrial town of Dobrich. Esseterre's distillery is not only one of the largest distilleries in the country now, but by far the most technologically advanced.

"Although Esseterre is owned by doTERRA, it is a Bulgarian firm, built and managed by a highly skilled team of people," said David Stirling, CEO, doTERRA. "Bulgaria is an agricultural haven for growing an abundance of aromatic plants, and the Bulgarians in this region are very wise about the cultivation of these plants."

doTERRA Presidential Diamond Sales Leader, Eric Larsen, said, "I was honored to be at Esseterre's inauguration. It is enormously gratifying to see that doTERRA really is making a difference in this part of the world through our co-impact sourcing model. I wish all of our customers and sales leaders could meet the farmers, smell the plants, and dig in the dirt of doTERRA's partner farms around the world. This commitment is at the heart of why we know that doTERRA's essential oils are not only exclusive to doTERRA, but are pure, natural and effective."

Esseterre will be a major essential oil producer for doTERRA, and will first focus on Lavender and Melissa oil production, but the farmers are capable and eager to do even more. Eventually other oils such as Blue Chamomile, Yarrow, Juniper Berry, Coriander Seed, and Fennel Seed, among other oils, will be distilled at Esseterre.

In the past year, Esseterre has brought a new multi-million investment and many jobs to a country where nearly a quarter of its population lives at or below the global poverty line. Through doTERRA's Cō-Impact Sourcing® model, the company has initially partnered with more than 70 local farmers in growing and distilling their essential oils, and at peak periods will support hundreds of jobs.

"Expert managers, distillers, farmers, and engineers make up the team at Esseterre," said Stirling. "Contracts have been signed with farmers throughout the Dobrich area and beyond, and they will receive seedlings, agronomic and technical advice, and bonuses for quality."

Esseterre is also dedicated to involving the youth of Bulgaria, where a disproportionate number of orphans need more resources than are currently available. Through donations from the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation®, Esseterre is supporting an innovative Bulgarian non-profit organization known as The Social Teahouse located in Varna, but looking to expand to other parts of the country soon.

The Social Teahouse opens its doors to youth who are leaving State care, providing a three-year mentorship program that builds professional and personal skills. As part of this mentorship program, Esseterre will be working to involve youth in learning skills linked to farming and distilling operations, among other skills.