One of our best city scoops is Happy Roots. A Pune-based social enterprise, and National award-winning (recipient of the President’s Award for Empowering Rural Communities) food company, they produce fair-trade and handcrafted, natural snack food products, made by partnering with local small-holding farmers and women from rural areas of India.
Started in 2015 by Reema Sathe, Happy Roots has been working closely with rural communities in Gujarat and Maharashtra, turning them into micro-entrepreneurs. By giving them 50% ownership via ‘co-owned food value chains’, Happy Roots aims to empower these people, creating profitable and sustainable sources of income. Currently, they are partnered with over, 15,000 farmers and 2,000 rural women across Maharashtra. Right from farming the ingredients to the production process, they are involved in the entire process.
From amarinth cookies to buckwheat gingersnap, flax seed to coconut, even the flavours are unique and healthy. The snacks indirectly turn us into clean eaters. They also have natural crackers, protein-rich biscuits, dehydrated and flavoured fruit pops, mixes and more. They also make use of local produce such as millets, hand-rolled oats, natural extracts and honey. Along with great taste is also the affordability (prices start at INR 160 only).
When you buy a Happy Roots product, a percentage of the sales go back into developing the skills of these farmers and women. By employing them locally, Happy Roots also protects crop bio-diversity – utilising indigenous/regional produce, some of which are endangered crops and seeds. To know more, click on the enquire button.