Veggies, Jams & Chocolate: This Service Sources Organic Eats From The Hills

We’re chuffed to bits to find an incredible initiative that’s run by Ela Smetacek to bring chemical-free produce that’s grown by Bhimtal farmers on virgin terrace farms. It’s called Organic Farmers Collective Uttrakhand and has everything from herbs and sabzis to lentils and organic beauty lotions.

Ela lived an idyllic Narnia life. She grew up on her family’s forest reserve in Bhimtal and her grandfather bought a big chunk of the forest so he could take it under his wing and tend it. Last year’s forest fires, however, sent Ela worrying about what’ll happen to the beautiful, scenic place she called home.

When she went out, drawing everyone’s attention to these burning forests, the course of the struggle made her realise that she needed to do a lot more.

This is what led to an initiative called Organic Farmers Collective Uttrakhand. The brand is Ela’s effort to save the forests and give the farmers a source of sustainable livelihood. The fair trade philosophy she adopts ensure that the monetary benefits of selling the freshest, pinkest plums and peaches to us city folks go directly to these pink-cheeked elves who grow these healthy crops.

Stay in the city but eat like a hill person… kick those takeaway meals and trade them for this produce that grows on hillsides, free of pollutants and chemical fertilisers. Needless to say these nuts and preserves are way more flavourful, organic and healthy.

Thanks to this farmers collective, you can take home a lot of vegetables including some crazy mountain staples like Lumru {fiddle fern shoots that are harvested from the shady forests in the monsoons}. This apart, the hills have rajma, different lentils, seasonal fruits, wild walnuts, jams, preserves and squashes, all of which are made using no artificial flavours.

There are also pickles, citrus summer fruits and a whole range of protein bars made from dried fruits and berries. Ela’s talented 15-year-old sister also uses local ingredients to make these super popular nutrition bars that fly off the racks, given they have yummy organic chocolate sprinkled all over them.

Want to lay your hands on the nutrition bars? Call Ela at +91 9999014518 for home delivery across south Delhi and Gurgaon. Or you can find them at Malik Brothers in Defence Colony and the Sunday market, Handpicked, at Select CityWalk.