From Innovation in Sustainability to Community Building: 7 PBFA Member Stories that Inspired in 2023
Written by: Annie Taranshansky
The PBFA community has always been member-led: A diverse collective of innovators, changemakers, and leaders – powered by our united vision of a better world. As we settle into 2024, we want to take a moment to turn back the clock and reminisce on the member stories that inspired our community in 2023. Looking back at last year’s Community Spotlights, our members showcased an astounding breadth of innovation, collaboration, and strategic initiative that –when pulled all together– tells a much grander story of our industry.
Innovation in Sustainability
We can’t talk about the incredibly valuable work our members are doing without talking about those that are standing up for our planet in notable ways. While all of our members are immensely innovative, creative, and idea-driven, last year we had several members that we spoke to that stood out to us for the unique work they’re doing in support of the regenerative agriculture movement.
Terviva: Leading Climate Resilience with Regenerative Practices
Snacktivist Foods: Prioritizing Sustainable Sourcing
Snacktivist has built direct relationships with the farmers that grow their ingredients, and they hold a transparent line of sight into every step of their product’s supply chain, culminating in delicious allergen-free, plant-based snacks. You can listen to an in-depth discussion about Snacktivist’s sourcing journey with Joni Kindwall-Moore and farmer Martin Goter here.
Gotham Greens: Scaling Urban Agriculture
Innovation in Technique
For many founders in the plant-based foods industry, the fun lies in the science and precision behind the products that drive our sector forward. We’d like to speak to our members that took their research-laden ideas and transformed them into successful and innovative companies.
The Mushroom Meat Co.: Achieving Craveability with Fermentation Science
Mellody Foods: Saving the World’s Pollinators With Groundbreaking Honey Alternatives
Innovation in Community
Our industry is incredibly diverse, and many of the leaders paving the way bring with them food values rooted in deep cultural history. We gathered a couple stories from 2023 that put this passion for community on full display. These founders refuse to compromise the taste, flavor, and texture of their foods, but rather have found new ways to adapt and innovate their product lines to meet the expectations of the foods that define and shape their communities.
Pleese Foods: Everyone Deserves a Delicious Slice of Pizza
Pulmuone: Led by a Rich Cultural History
The Thriving Community for Plant-Based Foods
A common thread that runs through our community is unexpected: Our members are all innovating in unique and distinguishable ways. We’ve had members define themselves by science-led innovation to traditional cultural food values, by the dietary habits of their local communities to the urgent food needs of the entire nation – the list goes on. It seems that no matter what story is told, every member has something different to offer, that is yet vitally crucial to realizing a food future led by our industry. Through continued innovation and diversification, each big idea brings us one step closer to a better world: One that is more delicious, sustainable, and nutritious for all.
Read more 2023 Community Spotlights on The Digest and stay tuned for new features and stories in 2024.
Are you a PBFA member with a story to tell? Apply to be featured as an upcoming Community Spotlight in 2024! Share your company’s story far and wide throughout our community, industry, and beyond by answering just a few simple questions for the PBFA team.