For co-founder Joseph Sitati, Elgon Nuts is more than a business—it’s a calling. Inspired by his Kenyan roots and driven by a desire to bring small-scale farmers into global markets, Sitati and his wife Gladys have built a brand that reflects care, connection, and uncompromising quality.
Rooted in the fertile highlands east of Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya, Elgon Nuts sources its macadamias from small farmers using traditional methods. The result? Dense, nutrient-rich nuts with a distinctive flavor and sweetness. With roasting, pressing, and packaging happening stateside in Utah, Elgon Nuts creates a seamless, sustainable bridge between the farmers who grow the crop and the consumers who enjoy it. It’s a global operation with a deeply personal mission—to nourish communities on both sides of the supply chain.
With products ranging from raw and roasted macadamia nuts to smooth nut butters and silky oils, Elgon Nuts is steadily gaining ground in specialty retail. And as the brand grows, so does its impact—empowering farmers, delighting customers, and proving that mindful, mission-driven food can be both delicious and transformative. Read on to hear from co-founder Joseph Sitati.
Please tell us about your product line. What makes Elgon Nuts’ macadamia nuts, oils, and butter unique?
We offer four raw macadamia nut products in 25 lb vacuum-sealed cases in kernel sizes 1L, 1S, 4L, and 4S. Our value-added products include six roasted and salted macadamia options available in 1 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb, and 3 lb pouches; two cold-pressed macadamia oils in 16 fl oz and 32 fl oz amber glass bottles; and one macadamia butter in a 16 fl oz amber glass jar. All value-added products are made and packed in Utah, USA, and all offerings are non-GMO.
Grown at an average altitude of 6,000 feet on the plateau east of Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya, our macadamias are dense and known for their uniquely sweet, complex, and rich flavor. The nuts are cultivated exclusively on small family farms using traditional, natural farming practices without harmful pesticides or modern machinery. Our processing facility is located within the rural farming community to ensure easy market access for farmers, while our value-add facility is situated close to the consumer community.
We were so glad that Elgon Nuts took part in the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show and SFA’s New Member Party. What were these experiences like?
As new members, our participation in the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show and SFA’s New Member Party reinforced my impression that the Specialty Food Association is a highly professional organization offering exceptional opportunities for emerging specialty food businesses. From the in-person launch of the Maker Prep Course in New York last June to the engaging study modules, webinars, discussion groups, and mentorship program, it was one of the best business experiences I’ve had. (Some aspects, like the mentoring, didn’t work perfectly for me—but that was no fault of SFA.) The layout of the New Member Area and the New Member Party itself were definite highlights—very well done!
Can you describe your product range? Which varieties are customer favorites, and are there any hidden gems people should know about?
Our product range is intentionally simple at this stage—four main products offered in various packaging formats. We offer raw and lightly salted, dry-roasted macadamia nuts, along with macadamia butter and oil. While some customers request chocolate-coated macadamias (which we plan to introduce), many tell us our roasted and salted macadamias are the best they’ve ever tasted. We hear similar praise for our macadamia butter—some customers say they’ll never use another spread again!
Macadamia oil is new to many people. When we share our cold-press process, the common question is: “How do I use it?” With more monounsaturated fats and a higher smoke point than many alternatives, our macadamia oil is a versatile and healthful substitute for olive oil—perfect for cooking, skincare, and gourmet applications. It may well be our hidden gem.
Your macadamia nuts are rooted in generations of Kenyan farming traditions. How does this approach shape your practices and set you apart?
In Kenya, we’re proud to be a truly rural-based business, located at the heart of Western Kenya’s small-scale farming communities—some of the most fertile lands in the country. We’ve built strong relationships with our farmers by providing free macadamia seedlings, offering orchard management training at no cost, and purchasing their harvests at prices often better than market rates.
Despite the challenges of our rural base, we’ve trained our farmers and staff to meet FSSC 22000 v6, the highest global food safety and quality standard. We offer this same high-quality product to our U.S. customers. Because we are directly connected to both our farmers and our buyers, we’re able to respond in real time to the needs of both. In addition to our product quality, this direct connection truly sets us apart.
What are your biggest goals for the future? What legacy do you hope Elgon Nuts will leave?
In the near term, our goal is to become the go-to macadamia product supplier in the Intermountain West region of the U.S. Long-term, we plan to diversify into other shelf-stable tropical and subtropical specialty crops like dried fruits, seeds, and spices.
We hope to establish Elgon Nuts as a trusted provider of healthy, natural snacks and ingredients—rooted in tradition, built with care, and enjoyed across communities.
What is your top advice for food entrepreneurs who are just starting out?
This is a complex and highly competitive industry. I strongly recommend joining the Specialty Food Association. SFA’s years of experience, diverse membership, and robust support through publications, education, and trade events offer a valuable roadmap for success.
Learn more about Elgon Nuts’ mission and products on their site, and find more food brands making change through our Member Directory.
From Kenyan Farms to U.S. Kitchens, Elgon Nuts Is Cultivating Change
