2018 social impact report

In January 2019, we looked back on our impact for 2018. Here's a little more about what we accomplished, made possible by you:

Case Study: Social Impact in Zanzibar, Tanzania

This year, we significantly grew our spice shipments from our partner cooperative in Zanzibar, including a few firsts along the way:

• The first-ever harvest of Cinnamon Tree Leaves, previously a by-product of the cinnamon tree harvest (great anywhere you'd use bay leaves)
• The first-ever harvest of Tanga Ginger, which we committed to buy it before it was even harvested
• The first-ever sale of their ENTIRE crop of Black Peppercorns, which Bloomberg magazine wrote "totally redefines a spice you thought you knew"

One way that we measure our social impact is through the amount paid to our partner farmers, so we wanted to share that. In 2017, we paid the cooperative an average of $238 per farmer for their incredible crops; in 2018, we more than doubled that payment to $565 per farmer.

(For you data nerds, the GDP per capita in Zanzibar is around $823, which means that the payment represents 69% of annual GDP for the average Zanzibari.)

We’re working on measuring impact in each country where we source spices including India, Egypt, Guatemala, as well as a global overview. Stay tuned.

Donations and Community Support

We may be small, but we’re committed to our social and activist values. That means supporting our communities however we can.

In 2018, we donated spices and volunteered our time with some incredible organizations, including:

• Emma's Torch
• C-CAP
• Sylvia Center
• AMC Dream Cafe
• Asymmetrical Table
• Cuir Kitchen Brigade
• The Zlatne Uste Golden Festival
• Heritage Radio Network
• Kingsborough Community College's Culinary Program
• Horticultural Society of New York
• NY Junior League
• League of Kitchens
• Museum of Food and Drink
• Just Food
• and many others

Want to read more? Check out our other Social Impact Reports

• 2022 Social Impact Report
• 2021 Social Impact Report
• 2020 Social Impact Report 
• 2019 Social Impact Report