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10. Siete Foods
This Mexican-American food company is a family effort in many ways. Veronica Garza is cofounder and president, while her brother, Miguel, is cofounder and CEO. Their grandma has even noted that the company’s grain-free tortillas taste better than her own! In addition to tortillas, Siete Foods creates tortilla chips, hot sauces, dairy-free queso, enchilada sauce, and more.
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11. Nature’s Path
Founded by husband and wife duo Arran and Ratana Stephens, Nature’s Path offers 100-plus products, from cereals, granolas, bars, biscuits, and more. Their daughter, Jyoti, leads sustainability efforts within the company around issues like ethical sourcing, energy efficiency, and waste reduction, and their son, Arjan, leads the expansion of the company’s products. With so many products (and flavors), there’s a lot to sample.
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12. Pan’s Mushroom Jerky
Michael Pan started his company after reconnecting with his family in Malaysia. Many of his family members are vegetarian Buddhists, and while spending time with them, Pan ate a variety of delicious mushroom dishes. When he was back in the States, he got to work developing a mushroom jerky product based on his family recipe. Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is now available in stores nationwide and offers flavors like Zesty Thai and Applewood BBQ.
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13. Teranga
Nafy Flatley started Teranga to reconnect with her childhood memories in Senegal, and her products are inspired by the flavors she grew up enjoying. Aside from offering juices, Teranga also has energy bars made with goji berries, sorghum, cacao nibs, pine nuts, and other nutritious ingredients.
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14. Marjorie’s Beef Jerky
On every bag, you’ll see Michelle Timberlake’s mother, Marjorie, to whom the product is dedicated. This jerky uses premium meat to create six different flavors of snacks. Aside from offering tasty jerky, the company is also on a mission to donate money to civil rights attorneys and help provide burial costs for people who have been unjustly killed.
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15. Mylk Dog
Mylk Dog’s Notcho Cheez is made with a blend of spices, peppers, cashews, and other ingredients that can help provide a kick to your favorite snacks. You can enjoy with it tortilla chips, vegetables, tostadas, nachos, beans, and more.
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16. Brooklyn Granola
Margaret Barrow had been eating granola for over 30 years before deciding she would create her own. The college professor started sharing her creations with her family, along with students and faculty. Her granola was a huge hit, and with her students’ feedback, she decided to launch her very own granola company. Brooklyn Granola donates a portion of profits to community college mentorship programs, and two of her mentees actually joined her in expanding the company.
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17. Sol Cacao
Sol Cacao is an artisan chocolate manufacturer based in the South Bronx and founded by three brothers. They offer three “bean to bar” chocolate treats made with just two ingredients: cacao beans and raw cane sugar. The company focuses on sustainable organic farming practices, environmental preservation, and ethical sourcing to create their products.
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18. Sweet Dames
Genelle Drayton named her company after her grandparents, from whom she got her love of cooking and entertaining. Drayton catered her first event when she was only 10 years old, and since that moment she knew she wanted to make a career out of entertaining. With Sweet Dames, Drayton hopes to share her love of food with others too. The company features a variety of macaroons and other sweets that you can enjoy when you need a little pick-me-up.
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