Tomato Sherpa Takes the Stress Out of Cooking with Locally Sourced Recipe Kits

San Francisco, CA -­­ Tomato Sherpa delivers fresh ingredients grown by local farmers combined with delicious chef­-tested recipes that guarantee a great meal ­- whether you're a first-­time cook or simply too busy to plan and shop for your next dinner party.

Today marks the official launch of Tomato Sherpa's website, as well as the kickoff of an IndieGoGo campaign that aims to take the growing company to the next level and out if it's cramped shared kitchen space in Berkeley.

Born out of a Presidio Graduate School business project to build a healthier relationship between busy eaters and better food, Tomato Sherpa saw that existing solutions like farmers markets and delivered CSA's didn't offer convenience for on­-the-­go people or the guidance for those less familiar in the kitchen.

"I was pregnant with my second child, working, at Presidio seeking a career change, and simply too busy to create wholesome meals for my family. Farmer's Markets have erratic hours and CSA's random variety can be daunting for a less ­experienced cook like myself," said Stacey Waldspurger, Founder and CEO of Tomato Sherpa. "Tomato Sherpa was founded to make local eating accessible for more people. The easy­to­use, step­by­step recipe kits can bring the joy of cooking back into the kitchen ­- my own included."

How does Tomato Sherpa work?

Each week, the San Francisco-­based startup presents customers with a variety of recipe kits and portion sizes to choose online, from Moroccan Chickpea Stew with Herbed Israeli Cous Cous to Steak Wraps with Baby Broccoli, Apricot Salsa and Mexican Rice. Kits are delivered in reusable, insulated bags and contain exact ingredient amounts to reduce unnecessary waste.

Leveraging a strong network of sustenance start ups, Tomato Sherpa works with online local food purveyors (Good Eggs, LolaBee's Harvest, and Zaarly) to reach a wide range of customers with delivery options at home, work, or convenient pick up points throughout the Bay area.

Beyond solo cooks, Tomato Sherpa is focused on creating corporate partnerships and will be starting delivery with a few companies in August, including a pilot program with a large benefits provider. This approach is a convenient and cost ­effective way to reach more customers and is an excellent benefit for companies that want to provide food perks to employees without additional overhead costs.

What's Next? The Kitchen is Getting Cramped. Calling All Cooks for IndieGoGo Campaign!

After six months of sowing the seeds in beta, Tomato Sherpa has outgrown its shared kitchen space in Berkeley and today launched an IndieGoGo campaign to help establish their own fulfillment center. From their hilarious video and sincere story, Tomato Sherpa makes their case to investors, who are rewarded with starter kits and 1, 3, or 6 month subscriptions to use immediately to cook nutritious, delicious meals. Other perks include a ten­ person dinner party, recipe book, and a Tomato Sherpa apron.

"We're a small band of "sherpas" committed to guiding eaters in the daily feat that is getting a wholesome meal on the table. This IndieGoGo campaign will enable us to grow the local food movement with a community of cooks simply feeding themselves and the people they love – wholesome food," said Stacey Waldspurger. "It's not that complicated, but it's small steps like this that will change the world."

ABOUT TOMATO SHERPA

Tomato Sherpa helps eaters to cook creative and delicious meals at home using fresh seasonal ingredients by simplifying the planning and shopping process. No more shopping lists, carts or checkout lines because Tomato Sherpa gathers everything you need to create delicious, healthy meals, in exact amounts, and delivers them to you. Our produce is locally sourced and farm fresh, our meats are sourced from ranchers who meet our superior sourcing standards, and our recipes are crafted and tested to ensure delicious results every time. Our mission is improved health for people, communities and our ecology – through cooking.