The Beej Farms Mission

Beej Farms, Inc. is a Public Benefit Corporation founded on the humanistic principle of the interconnectedness of life. We believe ethically traded, climate conscious, and heirloom spices must be clean, sustainable, and for all. We exclusively source regeneratively grown, premium-grade, single estate spices directly from farmers across the world.

Beej meaning ‘seed’ in Sanskrit signifies the origin of all life and is the foundation of transformative action that revitalizes and unites our communities. Founded by husband-wife team – Andrew Bawdon & Nandini Puri, Beej Farms connects passionate smallholder farmers, specializing in regenerative or climate smart agricultural practices, directly to the consumer – You. Our partner farmers use time-honored indigenous growing techniques that are centered on preserving heirloom seeds, promoting ecosystem biodiversity, soil rejuvenation, and zero pesticides. Each farmer is paid up to five times the International Fair-Trade premium for their crops. Guaranteed.

Uniting to fight climate change and economic inequality has never been more delicious!

From our roots, Beej Farms is an entirely different kind of community. As a Public Benefit Corporation, we are mandated by law to list at least one public good as our charter purpose. And we have three! (don’t just take our word for it, these are straight from our Articles of Incorporation).

Beej Farms, Inc actively seeks to invest in research and promote environmentally sustainable farming techniques, packaging, and transportation of all our products.

60% of global greenhouse gas emissions are a direct result of our consumption of household goods and services [1]. We live in a hyper-consumerist society with little regard to the origins of our food or the enduring environmental degradation caused due to commercialized agriculture.

Per the UN FAO, the agricultural sector consumes about 69 percent of the planet's fresh water and between clearing land to farm and the farming itself, that’s 21 percent of global emissions—much more than the carbon spewing out of every car, plane, and train on Earth.

1. Our partner farmers not only use 100% regenerative, climate-smart growing techniques for their own lands but actively campaign within their local farming communities to do the same. Our partner farmers are award-winning trailblazers who have educated over 500 other farmers in their local communities to adopt regenerative farming. We build on these community partnerships and provide market linkages to increase visibility and accessibility.

2. We invest heavily in the local economies in which we live and thrive, which is why we have made the careful and uncommon decision to source 100% of our packaging from American manufacturers. Each bottle, lid, label, and box is made right here in the United States! This drives our costs up by almost 250% but without handing power back to strong local communities, there can be no sustainability.

 

Beej Farms strives to provide an equitable and sustainable means of livelihood to all farmers, artisans, and/or any other community partners directly or indirectly involved in the production of all final Beej Farms, Inc. products.

When purchasing spices, there can be anywhere as seven to ten intermediaries between the farmer and you. We wish we were exaggerating, but this is the commonly followed model of the global food trade. Each additional party in the chain means less money for the farmer, and more money paid by you. Quality is not the focus, and flavor, potency and quality horticulture are paid little to no attention.

For transparent partnerships to thrive and to cultivate sustainable food supply chains, we work directly with farmers and pay up to five times the international fair-trade premium. We also guarantee to purchase the entire annual harvest for each partner estate. This allows for farmers to plan, invest in sustainable, climate-conscious growing practices, and focus on cultivating truly exceptional spices for a healthier planet.

 

Beej Farms, Inc aims to raise awareness on the impact of nutritious food choices on a community’s physical and mental health, through educational campaigns conducted through the benefit corporation’s media platforms and all other marketing channels.

With frequent reports of salmonella, rodent hair/fecal matter, or carcinogenic aflatoxins found in spices, the modern food trade has not prioritized hygiene regulations or prevention of pathogens. The opacity of bureaucracy in today’s spice trade remains unchanged from almost 4,000 years ago and has severely limited critical information sharing in this regard.

As a mission-driven organization, our priority to provide safe, clean, and wholesome spices to you is non-negotiable. Each Beej Farms spice is tested for heavy metals, aflatoxins, pesticides, microbial pathogens, and mold by a world-renowned FDA ASCA-Accredited laboratory. Our spices meet the stringent standards set by the Codex Alimentarius, European Spice Association (ESA), and the United States FDA.

We believe that the bonds of our communities are strengthened by the foods we share and the stories each grain tells us. The profundity of our cultural heritage is passed down by our ancestors through recipes reminiscent of compassion, wisdom, and courage for a brighter future. We believe the kitchen is the heart of every home and are honored to have been given a place at yours. We hope we will continue to earn this seat at your table, and that our spices play a small role in shaping some of your most significant moments with your loved ones.

With gratitude,

Nandini & Andrew