On your journey of becoming more health-conscious, you will naturally be inspired to look for brands and companies that provide high-quality products that feature pure, wholesome, and safe ingredients. One food company that I can recommend, and whose products I have come to trust and enjoy using myself is Nutiva.
Nutiva is a California-based health-oriented company that specializes in superfoods, like hemp seeds, chia seeds, and coconut products, as well as several body care products. The company is committed to providing high-quality organic products and is involved in sustainability efforts. What impressed me about this company is their forthright dedication to the health of all individuals and that of the Earth. Nutiva takes every step of their product production seriously; they support sustainable and regenerative farming practices and work to have an eco-positive impact. The company has several certifications, including organic, non-GMO verified, fair trade certified, and vegan*.
To help you get to know more about this company and its products, I had the pleasure of connecting with Nutiva’s founder and CEO, John Roulac for a short interview, which is featured as part of this article below.
Interview with John Roulac of Nutiva
EVITA: Hello John, and welcome to Evolving Wellness! It is lovely to have you here with us to share a little about your work and that of your company. As the founder and CEO of Nutiva, what was your inspiration for starting this company?
JOHN: Hi Evita, and thank you.
I wanted to help create markets for Canadian hemp farmers and thus began selling a hemp seed-based bar and a can of shelled hemp seed. It’s been fun to watch the hemp industry grow, and Nutiva is proud to be part of that.
EVITA: Can you tell us a little more about Nutiva. How many years has it been around, and what are the feature products all about?
JOHN: I founded Nutiva in 1999, and we are the worlds leading brand of organic coconut oil and organic hemp foods.
EVITA: As there are more and more companies specializing in hemp and coconut products, can you tell us how Nutiva’s products are different?
JOHN: Glad to see more firms offering hemp and coconut. As one of the pioneers, people tell us all the time they love Nutiva’s flavor and just read the testimonials which praise Nutiva for the best tasting coconut oil, hemp seeds, and hemp protein.
We also are different in that we donate 1% of sales, just like Patagonia, to non-profit groups, in our case, sustainable agriculture. This year Nutiva will give away $140 thousand or more from planting fruit trees at schools, sponsoring organic farm conferences, to training Philippine farmers in the art of organic farming.
EVITA: John, it is hard to trust companies to be completely “natural” today. It seems between relaxed labeling laws and a lot of manipulation in both the nutritional labels and ingredient lists, that word has lost a lot of its credibility today. How can customers trust that what they see on the labels of Nutiva’s products is truthful and all that there is?
JOHN: Yes, a very good point. Who can you trust? We take pride in the fact that over 98% of our sales are certified organic – the highest among hemp brands. As someone who goes to the farmers’ markets and has worked at organic farms, it’s just part of my lifestyle for 25+ years. One only needs to watch our Facebook posts, and you can see I am as much an advocate for organic foods as I am the CEO of a fast-growing food brand.
EVITA: What is your favorite Nutiva product, and why?
JOHN: It’s a toss-up between coconut oil – amazing cooking oil and my choice for my hair, skin, and massage uses – and shelled hemp seeds. The seeds are rich in protein(33%), Omega-3, GLS, and SDA as well vital minerals.
EVITA: Yes, I can attest to the fact that your coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer for the skin, and the scent is so full-bodied and pleasantly reminiscent of the tropics. John, I am excited to ask, is Nutiva planning any new products for the near future?
JOHN: Yes, we have many exciting new products. Coconut Manna is a whole coconut food made from dried coconuts and finely milled into a spread, which is great in desserts, ice creams, smoothies, in oatmeal, and more. We also have a new centrifuge-processed raw coconut oil packed in glass jars. Lastly, we are also rolling out organic chia seeds, which like hemp, is an ancient superfood rich in omega-3 and protein.
EVITA: Excellent to hear! Can you share with us, what is the best part about working at Nutiva?
JOHN: I get to help in creating a healthier and more sustainable world for all. Nutiva and the entire food industry has a lot of work ahead to meet the challenges we face. Plus, I love giving away money to all the great non-profits we support through our 1% program.
EVITA: Where can customers in Canada or the US most easily buy Nutiva products?
JOHN: We are sold in over 6,000 stores, including Whole Foods and other retailers, and widely available in online stores, including Amazon. Also, you can order products directly from our Nutiva website.
EVITA: Thank you for all this info, John, and for all the work you are doing to not only improve people’s health and awareness but also to positively contribute to making this world a little healthier, brighter, and greener for all!