Black History Month
In the United States, February is Black History Month. This gives us a chance to reflect on all the contributions that make our country what it is, and to learn from history so that we may not have to repeat it. It's also a great time to support Black-owned businesses. Here at Ethica, where our focus is on ethical grocery shopping, we have discovered some great Black-owned food companies that you can feel good about buying from.
This family started out looking for natural remedies for their son Zack's allergies, and learned how raw honey could help relieve his symptoms. This brought them into conversations with many local beekeepers, learning the thrills and challenges of the trade, and led to long weekends poring over beekeeping books. With encouragement from the local beekeepers, they decided to start their own hives, but with a special focus on health and ethics - they use no pesticides and no additives. Their product is "just PURE, RAW HONEY from bees that we value, nurture, and love. Nothing more."
This business was started by a six year old entrepreneur, determined to raise money to buy a car for his mom. Cory Nieves and his mother started making and selling home-made cookies. Soon they were featured on the TV show The Profit, and through their participation they received enough capital and exposure to make their cookie business thrive. Cory Nieves is now a teen but Mr. Cory's Cookies are the largest cookie business run by a teenager in the world.
Ubah Hassan is a model who focuses on keeping healthy, so she created these amazing sauces for people who "want to consume more vegetables and less processed food without compromising the flavor." Ubah says her inspiration came from her mother, who taught her to use all of her senses when enjoying food. Her sauces come in three distinct flavors, but all are spicy, aromatic, and sure to add "traditional African" flavors to any meal. They can be used as a condiment for fish and vegetables, or as a soup or sauce starter base. These tangy sauces are also 100% vegan.
Rod and Pernell started this hot beverage business with a purpose. They wanted to turn a ritual familiar to many of us, the morning cup of coffee or tea, into an opportunity to give back to the community and help youth. Their coffee business is pledged to support youth through education, training, and ending youth homelessness, and 5% of every dollar they make goes to these causes. As of July 2020, they are fully certified as a B Corporation, and are committed to supporting "the most vulnerable demographic."
February may be Black History Month, but these great companies are raising the bar for ethical business and should be supported all year round.