PRIOR AWARDEES
2025
($100,000)
We are a food company grounded in the notion that deliciousness might just change the world—and that it starts with the seed. Built by chefs, farmers, plant breeders, and plant eaters, we strive to make ingredients taste better before they ever hit a plate.It’s a collaboration—a cross-pollination—based on a simple premise: we believe flavor can succeed where commodification has failed. That it can change how we eat and, in turn, how we grow.
2024
($75,000)
Our mission is to reconnect Indigenous families with our longstanding relationship between earth and parenting. We believe that there is a direct connection between nurturing the land and nurturing our children. By understanding how to grow traditional crops and preparing them for young children we are actively dismantling systems of oppression and rebuilding Indigenous food ways.​​
Biddii Baby Foods is an indigenous baby food line and farm rooted in tradition and operating on the Navajo Nation. Husband and wife founders Zachariah and Mary Ben have a deep vision to reconnect Indigenous families with the earth and parenting, meanwhile training young Navajo farmers and bringing health to the 20,000 young children in the Four Corners region. They have a distinctly regional focus yet are fast becoming exemplars of indigenous entrepreneurship and local foodshed leadership. The day before receiving the award on stage at the Natural Products Expo, Zach was at the Reservation Economic Summit where he was recognized as part of the Native American 40 under 40.
2024
($25,000)
Neil and Palmmy were MBA students in 2011 when they learned that Thai farmers were amongst the poorest in the world, earning just $0.40/day as a result of poor yield, rising costs and inefficient agricultural systems. This problem affects 17 million farmers in Thailand alone, and it is getting worse as farmers’ debts have tripled in the last decade, resulting in a multitude of social problems. Wanting to create a sustainable, scalable and irreversible solution to such a problem, they founded Jasberry, a social enterprise that solves the problem of farmer poverty through innovative organic products with global appeal, starting with Jasberry® rice. Beginning with just 25 farmers in the first year, Jasberry is now working with over 2,500 farmers, helping them out of poverty, one grain at a time.
Jasberry is Thailand's first B Corp certified food company. Founder Peetachai (Neil) Dejkraisak has been working for over 10 years to commercialize a unique superfood rice that has an incredible nutritional profile and environmental attributes while yielding a 14x increase in income for Thai rice farmers. Beginning with just 25 farmers in the first year, Jasberry is now working with over 2,500 farmers, helping them out of poverty, one grain at a time.
2023
($100,000)
Our mission is to connect people around the world through the joy of food. SIMPLi is transforming our flawed food system to one that is good for you, for the planet, and for producers. We are committed to restoring the environment and preserving the planet for future generations through our vertical supply chains. SIMPLi ethically sources the highest quality, single-origin ingredients while eliminating fraudulent international supply chains, combating climate change, and improving the livelihoods of farmers and their communities. With SIMPLi, you know where your food comes from and the people behind it.
SIMPLi is an ethically-sourced ingredients company with a larger mission of tackling a fraudulent international supply chain. SIMPLi has the ambitious vision of building a full pantry of single origin, Regenerative Organic Certified® retail and foodservice packaged food sourced directly from growing communities in Peru, Greece and beyond. In just a few years, founders Sarela and Matt Cohen, have established themselves at the forefront of efforts to formalize the regenerative movement with nine SIMPLi products Regenerative Organic Certified. Along with high standards, their enthusiasm for human engagement at farm-level means they understand how to meet farmers where they are and participate in the journey of improving on-farm practices. Sarela was born and raised in Peru into a farming family so their dedication to source runs deep.