Beej Farms India trip

Nandini and Andrew, owners of Beej Farms based in southern California, returned from a 3-week trip in India this September. If you haven’t read the blog “Do you know where your spices come from?” I highly recommend it, as this blog is a catch-up with the power couple behind this spice company. The blog can be found here: https://greenfarm4all.com/2023/07/01/do-you-know-where-your-spices-come-from-beej-farms-or-how-to-honor-farmers/  and on Youtube: https://youtu.be/k-PJnAlp8TI

As I write this, October passed by, which was fair trade month, one of the pillars of the public benefit corporation formed by Beej Farms. Fair Trade Month is a reminder for all to observe this movement all year round. Practicing fair trade ensures farmers are paid and treated fairly for their goods. Their company cuts the intermediates during trade, resulting in more funds going back to the farmers, which trickles into the community, improving the well-being of all.

LOOKING BACK ON 2023

Even though they shared their journey through blog posts, I was so excited to chat with them in person for more trip details. Among others, I wanted to discuss their first-anniversary venture. I first met Andrew at the Farmers’ Market in Laguna Niguel last year. When I asked where their products were showcased, they were not in many places, and I could feel the disappointment in his voice. But they never gave up; they often checked in with each other over how arduous the journey was. However, they continued to persist. It was challenging to talk to “good people” in their own words, and the hard work finally paid off, continuously fun and rewarding. As of now, their 3 estate spices are available in 49 stores (Nandini keeps exact count!) throughout the United States. These specialty stores embraced that their product is more than just a spice; it’s a celebration of the farmers producing them in an organic and regenerative way, resulting in a particular flavor profile.

Nandini and Andrew reiterate that Beej Farms is purpose-driven, as they are mission-oriented for everyone to access better, cleaner, more sustainable food. They noticed that the conversation is shifting, and people are trying to understand our impact on our environment, and consuming is a much bigger picture than just food you buy. Andrew remarked that people are more interested in the story of their food and where it comes from, as it does not magically appear on a shelf. He finds it rewarding to educate consumers about the journey that spice takes before getting into their hands.

INDIA TRIP, ALL ABOUT FOOD

Their trip started in Pune, Nandini’s hometown, and they shared that they married in New Delhi. While in Pune, they feasted on street food, and Andrew mentioned: “In India, it is so incredibly diverse; something I’d say a lot is when you go to a different state in India, you may as well be going to a different country.” Andrew added you can take a deep dive into a person’s culture by observing how they take advantage of locally grown crops and what they eat or won’t eat. For this reason, Andrew always enjoys highlighting regional food, especially street food. 

UTTAR PRADESH

Their trip then catapulted them to meet a farmer’s cooperative from the west to the north of India in Uttar Pradesh. What an inspiring story, as they started this coop 10 -15 years ago, which now integrates about 400 farmers and covers over 5000 hectares (1 hectare = 2.47 acres). This visit left them with an educational moment they heartedly wanted to share, making them ponder future initiatives.

They grow diverse crops such as turmeric, chili peppers, herbs, rice, chamomile, and jaggery. Geographically, they border Nepal; as such, the soil is black and highly fertile. The soil color contrasts with the yellow/orange hue where the Lakadong turmeric is grown in Meghalaya. As Nandini mentioned, the soil in India is as old or older than the Himalayas, and the biodiversity mirrors that of the Amazon.

The coop is hugely focused on soil health, and they help small farmers rotate 4 to 7 different crops. This is amazing due to the socioeconomic situation; small farmers would find it hard to implement independently. They have formed social programs for farmers to access toilets and clean water.

However, more incredible are their women’s programs. Nandini and Andrew were amazed at the focus on women’s reproductive health, such as giving adequate supply for menstruation (reusable menstruation products), which they found groundbreaking for a patriarchal rural community. They realized that providing these products was ½ the battle for their women’s program. They then paid two doctors to drive 5 hours from New Delhi to educate women on using what was supplied. Why is this important, would you ask? If you provide primary access to health and education, women can focus on providing nutritious food and caring for the land. As such, they will not be distracted by fundamental issues. This made Beef Farms think their approach to agriculture outline should be based not only on its regenerative farming capabilities but also by taking care of the community’s needs so they can be uplifted.

They observed how they process their Salem turmeric and were walked through their chili peppers process. They are especially interested in their jaggery, a familiar sweetener in India. Nandini describes it as a healthy sugar alternative derived from unrefined sugar cane juice. She mentioned it is high in iron and has trace minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. People would take a small piece after a meal to aid digestion. They are working with the cooperative to add jaggery to their line of products, and we should be looking for an announcement at the beginning of next year.

NEXT, GHATS MOUNTAINS VISITING HENNALI JUNGLE PEPPER

This next stop made them travel from the North of India to the West coast in Karnataka to meet the growers of their Hennali Jungle pepper. They flew to Bengaluru (former Bangalore), then drove 5 hours to Regina and Merwin Fernandes’s estate. This was not without adventure, as getting lost on rural roads was part of the game (hint: cell phone service was not everywhere); the Fernandes found them, so they arrived safely at their destination.

The Fernandes has several cottages where people can stay and learn about regenerative agriculture during their stay. Nandini and Andrew were welcomed by the sounds of the forest surrounding them and found it very calming.

For the Fernandes, food is medicine, and their diet is entirely whole food plant-based, with no dairy, no meat, and no processed food. Nandini and Andrew thought they would miss dairy and meat; however, quite the contrary, they were surprised at how good everything tasted. They mentioned they got excellent food during their whole stay. It was the most nutritious, hearty, and flavorful food they had ever eaten. Everything they ate was grown on their estate.  Breakfast was fruits and fruits in a green smoothie made with coconut, salads for lunch, and dinner was a variety of cooked regional recipes.

Many indigenous medicinal leaves are grown on their property, as well as Amla, an Indian gooseberry, and 12 to 15 banana types. Nandini was surprised to learn there are over 60 different kinds of bananas.

WHAT IS NEXT?

“We’re trying to regroup after this incredible trip because it really has changed the way we’re approaching our business and how we’re trying to be able to educate the customer rather than just sell a product.” They want to work on their price point, as they realize goods are costly right now, and they feel people shouldn’t have to put aside money to buy good, clean, healthy food. They know they will have to expand into more stores to achieve this. They are also working on diversifying their offerings, such as adding jaggery, a couple more spices, and hopefully a tea or two. And again, they are highly focused on working with farmers involved in regenerative agriculture or working toward it.

They described their trip as productive, fantastic, and educational, and looking forward to doing it again soon.  They felt such a joy and privilege to visit all these far corners of India (Pune, Bombay, Pradesh, then Karnataka), thus feeling the inherent difference between all these regions and realizing how knowledgeable each of them is about their specific region. Since one of Beej Farms’ focus is on soil health, it was revealing to notice the different types of soil in India and how their stewards maintained it.

Seeing how Nandini and Andrew evolve through their business venture is a pleasure.  I consider them changemakers for future generations. Stop by their website, https://beejfarms.org/, support their cause by acquiring their spices, and look for times they might resume their Farmers Market appearance. If you remember, Andrew loves talking your ears off about spices while you are served a warm homemade drink.

This current interview is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Jxcy4QhIL2Q , and the good news is that since we were over a Zoom meeting, you can listen to it in your car.

All pictures were taken by Andrew and Nandini and were used with their permission.