Sesames require little water to grow, and offer a sustainable plant-based protein source.
There is a reason why sesame seeds have been a staple food in many countries around the world for thousands of years: they taste great. Whether they are blended with chickpeas to make hummus, valued for their high-impact flavor as condiments, turned into a subtly favored oil for cooking, or crafted into desserts and snacks, these small seeds are treasured across the globe. Sesame seeds are also good for you. They have no sugar, are vegan, gluten-free and nut-free, yet still are packed with protein as well as fiber, iron and other essential vitamins.
But there is another reason why some food entrepreneurs are placing their bets on the tiny yet mighty sesame seed emerging as the next super popular superfood: Sesame seeds are good for the planet. Sesames demand little water or chemicals to flourish. The plant thrives in arid environments worldwide, and grows without bees or herbicides required since it self-pollinates and is naturally pest-resistant.
Two major food brands harnessing the sustainable powers of superfood sesame are Planting Hope, whose sesame milk brand is called Hope and Sesame, and SoCo Tahini.
The Planting Hope Company makes the first widely-available sesame milk.
Plant-based milks and creamers already are the largest and fastest-growing category within the plant-based food products domain, representing 42% of the market – more than double that of plant-based meat. Plant-based milk is projected to grow to $95 billion by 2030.
Yet the category leader, almond milk, has huge sustainability challenges, requiring an enormous amount of water to cultivate. Millions of bees die annually in the pollination process. On top of that, almond milk has less than a 1g of protein per serving. Sesame milk is better for the planet, demanding 95% less water than almond milk. It also offers 8 grams of complete protein per serving. On top of that, it foams like milk, making it a favorite of baristas.
Hope and Sesame won the Best Plant-based Milk award at the 2022 World Plant-based Expo for its Barista Blend. The brand offers the first commercially-available sesame milk globally. The parent company spent five years developing it.
The Planting Hope Company, the umbrella company that produces Hope and Sesame, innovates, launches, and distributes nutritious and planet-friendly plant-based food and beverages. A women-led and women-managed company, Planting Hope boasts an all-women C-suite as well as one of the first all-women public company Board of Directors.
Julia Stamberger is the CEO and cofounder of The Planting Hope Company, which makes Hope and Sesame … [+]
Julia Stamberger, the CEO and cofounder of Planting Hope, not only leads a publicly-traded company that is experiencing explosive growth, but also is the mother of four children and just gave birth a few months ago. She says that she always has had an entrepreneurial streak.
“Technically, my first venture was fencing Charms Blow-Pops on the school bus in eighth grade. I had my dad take me to Sam’s Club to buy in bulk so that I could undercut the other kids selling into the same market,” she says.
That said, Stamberger traveled a winding path to founding The Planting Hope Company. After working for a few years and then completing an MBA at Kellogg, she was hired by United Airlines, where she readapted the in-flight food for sale program and pioneered the shelf stable airline snack box. “Making that program work on all levels, operationally and for consumers, required me to dive deep into the emerging ‘better-for-you’ food industry. Once digging in there, I never left,” she says.
Stamberger founded The Planting Hope Company along with food and beverage industry veterans. Seeing more consumers choosing plant-based foods for health and nutrition reasons, due to environmental and sustainability concerns, allergen issues, and animal welfare concerns, they decided to jump into the rapidly growing space. They committed to creating foods that have high impact in both planet-friendliness and consumer nutrition.
They also committed to changing the narrative around women at high level positions and on boards of directors by creating an all-women board and all-women C-suite for The Planting Hope Company. “Our goal is to show great financial success in order to demonstrate that an investment in a women-led company can provide excellent returns to investors,” says Stamberger.
For people looking to tap into their life purpose, Stamberger has this advice. “Take the first step and see where it leads. Never be afraid to pivot, do so quickly and take the long-term strategic view. We see a lot of shorter-term thinking in younger employees. Remember, you’re building a career over quite a long span. Your network, your steps, your work along the way will all pay off in the end if you keep moving forward and focus.”
Seeds of Collaboration (SoCo) is a joint Israeli-Palestinian venture making high quality tahini from … [+]
SoCo Tahini blends 100% dry-roasted, stone-ground sesame seeds into a nutritious, aromatic tahini paste available in three varieties: traditional, with pesto, and with dates. It serves as the ultimate secret ingredient—whether you choose to eat it out of the jar with a spoon, as a substitute for peanut and almond butter (especially for anyone with a nut allergy), or to mix into a sauce, salad dressing, or hummus.
The company, whose full name is Seeds of Collaboration (SoCo), is an Israeli-Palestinian partnership. Founders Goni Light and Dana Harary started SoCo to seed healthy change in their communities. Their goals extend far beyond just profitability.
Goni Light and Dana Harary cofounded SoCo to foster peace and provide high-quality tahini to the … [+]
Growing up in Israel, the cofounders loved tahini. But upon moving to America, they couldn’t find any products as tasty and creamy as those they had enjoyed at home. This inspired them to found SoCo – as did their feelings about ongoing conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians.
“The hostility and lack of communication between Israelis and Palestinians is devastating. They perpetuate violent conflict in the region,” says Light. “But when people work toward a shared goal, and even more so when they share a passion, they can often put aside differences and grow closer. This doesn’t come from peace talks as much as it comes through building businesses like SoCo together. Our Israeli-Palestinian collaboration is at the heart of Seeds of Collaboration.”
The biggest challenge SoCo faces in the U.S. is educating consumers about tahini, its health benefits and versatile uses in a cost-effective way. Once people try it, they often are hooked. Therefore, the cofounders currently are focused on introducing to Americans easy, healthy recipes using their tahini.
“You can create impact only if you step outside of your comfort zone,” says Harary to aspiring change makers. “Surround yourself with people who share your passion and values while complementing your skills and challenging your thinking. This means they will probably have a different thought process than you and force you to get to more clarity in your thinking and strategy. If you are driven by the same core principles and maintain open, candid communication, diversity around the table can be the key to your company’s success.”