By Aishwarya Sahasrabudhe
July 15, 2023
Championing sustainability and farm-to-plate businesses, some women-led food brands in India are promoting fresh, organic produce that is good for the health and environment. Here are some women-led sustainable food brands on our radar which are fortifying responsible agricultural practices.
Led by Ruchi Jain, Taru Naturals empowers and supports small-scale farmers. The company which started out with organic jaggery now offers produce like black rice, sourdough flour and khapli wheat flour.
Co-founded by marine geographer Divya Karnad, InSeason works closely with the fishing community to sell fresh fish while building awareness around the seasonality associated with marine life. InSeason will tell you what fish to eat when.
Peepal Farm is a stray animal rescue organisation and organic farm located near Dharamsala. Their organic butters and spreads work towards empowering local women by providing employment opportunities.
Founded by Niharika Bhargava, this farm-to-fork business offers preservative-free farm-fresh condiments like pickles, chutneys and dips while supporting marginalised women who form a large part of its workforce.
Black Baza promotes small holder coffee producers to secure their livelihoods and conserve biodiversity. A women-run initiative, Black Baza has partnered with over 650 coffee producers in the Western Ghats.
Producing homegrown Maharashtrian food, Aazol offers everything from papads and pickles to rice, flour and sweets. Co-founded by Apurva Purohit, Aazol works with women-led self-help groups across rural Maharashtra.
Run by third generation farmers, Maaticha offers single-origin, mono-floral honey, murabba and moringa sourced from local, tribal families. It reconciles age-old farming techniques with urban needs for organic produce.
Launched by Shriya Naheta, Zama promotes organic and seasonal produce and is engaged in building a strong network of small farmers practising sustainable agriculture. Their shop offers seasonal vegetables, spices, herbs and cereals.