Meet The Makers Mini Interview: Okanagan Rawsome
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It’s been amazing to see so many incredibly healthy, delicious products for specialized diets come to market over recent years, and Okanagan Rawsome has been some of the pack leaders. Crisp creator and company founder Afke Zonderland started developing her raw, sprouted, gluten-free crisps in 2008 after becoming a certified raw chef in her retirement. After some hard work in her kitchen, she came up with a winning product that has been a staple for so many of our customers and has only grown in popularity over time. Over the past decade, working with her daughter Anna, Afke has maintained her commitment to sourcing the organic produce used in her crisps from her own and local farms, to help support her community socially, economically, and environmentally.
Okanagan Rawsome Mini Interview
Share your story with us in a 150 words or less.
Okanagan Rawsome began as a fun retirement hobby for me. I became a certified raw chef in 2008 which inspired me to experiment with different plant-powered recipes. I wanted to find a way to turn local farm food into fast food without compromising on ingredients, taste, or nutritional quality. After much trial and error, our ‘Rawsome’ Crisps were born! As we grew, I realized I couldn’t do it alone, so my daughter Anna came on board to help me expand the family business. One of our core commitments is to source our produce from local organic farms or our own farm. NO FARMS, NO FOOD! After 10 years in business, there is still nothing quite like an Okanagan Rawsome Crisp! Thank you to all our customers that support our family business - it means the world to us.
Getting from an idea to a small business is a lot of work! When did it first sink in for you that ‘this is really happening’?
When I first embarked on my culinary adventure, there were very little tasty gluten-free products and even less sprouted or ‘raw’ food on the shelves. So, the demand for our unique food exploded! That’s when I realized that Okanagan Rawsome could be a viable business…woohoo!
Out of all your products, which is your personal favourite and why?
Our Crisps are like my family. Every single one is special and loved for their own uniqueness.
What motivates you on a day-to-day basis?
Creating beautiful plant-based food for Canadians that wish to eat a consciously balanced diet.
What’s your favourite thing about the town or city you live in?
Our farm community! They supply us with the best-ever organic produce (the main ingredient in all our Crisps) as well as invaluable tips and techniques on sustainable farming. The social and economic aspect of sharing locally grown food makes our hearts smile 😊
Describe your ideal Sunday morning, including your breakfast.
Sunday starts with a Bullet Proof coffee spiked with turmeric and a side of Orange-Sesame Apple Crisps topped with marmalade and cashew cream. The rest of the morning is spent in the Garden in the summer or on the ski hill in the winter!
What are your personal top three tips for feeling awesome?
1. Surround yourself with nature and fill your heart with gratitude.
2. Be active…everyday!
3. Feed your body food that nourishes your immune system and your soul.
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