Tiffin Asha, a Portland, Oregon-based, women-owned and operated maker of South Indian-inspired condiments, was selected Wednesday as a first-round recipient of the Non-GMO Project’s equitable transfer program grant.
Launched in March, the program was designed to address some of the barriers companies led by members of underrepresented groups face in accessing financial resources, industry infrastructure, and visibility for their products. The program will provide funding to cover or offset the costs associated with getting Non-GMO Project verification.
"Justice and diversity are essential to building a better food system," said Megan Westgate, executive director of the Non-GMO Project, in a statement. "As a predominantly white-led organization, we are on a learning journey to understand the role we play in systemic racism and what we can do to transfer power and resources to people of color who own and lead businesses in the natural products industry. Our hope is that this equity program represents a small, but meaningful first step into even more meaningful relationships."
For Tiffin Asha, the funds will go toward covering the cost of Non-GMO Project annual verification renewal. Besides being Non-GMO Project Verified, the products are also vegan and gluten-free. Two products from the brand have the certification: Tomato Ginger Pickle and Green Tomato Pickle.
"When we had our restaurant and food cart, it was easy to create an environment that showed customers we care about our ingredients. We were always there, and could literally talk with folks," said Sheila Bommakanti, co-founder of Tiffin Asha, in a statement. "But as a specialty food company, we thought, 'How can we express this?' We thought about how we shopped, what we looked for in stores, and it did not take long for us to conclude that one of our first priorities would be to become a Non-GMO Project Verified brand."
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