February marks Black History Month, during which online grocer FreshDirect will showcase its Black-owned vendors and the products they create on its website.
FreshDirect has always been committed to supporting small, emerging, and local brands, it says. This includes investing in BIPOC-led businesses that are working toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and just food system. These makers are not only driving some of the most exciting innovations in food, but are also dedicated to positive social and economic change.
Following are some of the brands it's promoting:
• Nafis: Inspired by Senegalese traditions, Nafis products are handcrafted hot condiments and sauces made up of habanero and Scotch bonnet peppers mixed with a blend of spices and vegetables. Its products are all-natural, vegan, and preservative-free and versatile for a variety of uses including rubs, condiments, or as a base for soups and stews. They can also be diluted and used as marinades and salad dressing.
• Zach & Zoë Sweet Bee Farm: Inspired by a need in the marketplace for a natural treatment option, Zach & Zoë Sweet Bee Farm started as a way to help alleviate allergies. Years later, the raw honey products have a home in Chelsea Market in New York City and have been featured included on Oprah’s Favorite Things list.
• Hillside Harvest: Founder Kamaal Jarrett used his passion for cooking to provide people with distinctive flavors in Hillside Harvest’s hot sauces. The sauces are made with simple ingredients, designed to enhance every dish with a bit of a kick.
• McBride Sisters: Andréa and Robin McBride began their McBride Sisters Collection in 2005. Since then, the company has grown into the largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S. A portion of the proceeds from its She Can canned wine collection goes towards the She Can Professional Development Fund, which invests in the professional advancement and career growth of high-potential, professional women. The Black Girl Magic collection is inspired by the magic and resilience of Black women and is the McBride sisters’ ode to their culture and story.
• Maison Noir: Founded by sommelier André Hueston Mack in 2007, Maison Noir wines are distinctive garage wines sourced from the best fruit possible in the Willamette Valley region of Oregon. Each varietal shows the individuality of its respective sites and terroirs.
Related: New Publishing Imprint Focuses on BIPOC Creators; PCC Announces Diverse Entrepreneur Grant Recipients.