Ancient HimalaSalt and Spice for a Better Planet: Seasoning the Earth with Flavors of Social Change

Sustainable Sourcingtm, makers of HimalaSalt, the new leading pink Himalayan sea salt, is introducing another gorgeous, ethically sourced, artisan made line, Sustainable Sourcing Organicstm.

. "Our rare primordial sea salt of 250 million years ago remains free of impurities, unlike refined table salt or salt from today's widely polluted oceans. It's perfect for pairing with our new line of organic, social change spice blends, the first two of which are exotic peppercorns blended in grinders with HimalaSalt. Grown in unique micro-climates, they possess highly prized, exquisite flavors and aromas, perfectly paired with fish, salads, melons, even chocolate or ice cream." Founder and CEO, Melissa Kushi says.

Kushi has built her company and product lines to reflect her personal values and commitment to sustainability. She believes that consumer culture is harming the planet, yet knows it can also help save it. Melissa explains, "My goal is to create market-based social change by sourcing our products from the most pristine regions on Earth in ways that sustain the Earth, while sharing my love of quality, pure foods and definitely a sense of global eco-adventure, wellbeing, and social justice."

Kushi, who can speak passionately for hours about the healthful qualities of HimalaSalt, explains what is unique about the organic peppercorns she's sourced, “Our organic pink peppercorns are not only sumptuously rich and flavorful, but our sustainable harvesting methods are helping to preserve the indigenous coastal forests of Brazil and its natural butterfly habitat, as well as building the local economy with jobs. Especially different from conventional pink peppercorns which are routinely sprayed with PE3, a toxic pesticide, our certified organic harvest is healthy and fresh. Their quality and highly prized, zesty-sweet, and softly spicy flavor have made them a favorite of global foodies."

Sourcing her organic green peppercorns from the mist shrouded tropical hill forests of India, bordering the Arabian Sea Coast, Melissa explains, "Soon after harvest, these green peppercorns are quickly freeze dried, preserving their plump, smooth texture and rich aromas of lemongrass and bergamot, with a deep, spicy warmth. Sensual, warming, and very satisfying, blended in grinders with HimalaSalt is a very elegant, pleasurable way to transform the most simple of meals, even desserts. And, the Fair Trade grower I work with has decent housing for the families who live and work on the farm, and a school, where their children play and eat organic food. These are the types of products I feel passionate about bringing to market. It's based upon relationships and what's good."

Sustainable Sourcing's footprint is 100% Green-e Certified through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, which creates live, metered hours of wind and solar energy to help reduce our dependency upon fossil fuels. That, combined with eco-friendly packaging, giving 5% of profits to the environment, and the years spent researching the purest sources for her products and you get a glimpse of the joy, passion, and force behind the company.

For one of the greenest gift kits on the market, Kushi has created a treasure chest full of HimalaSalt and certified organic peppercorns in refillable, recyclable grinders; a gorgeous pink hand carved salt cube resembling rose quartz, with its own stainless Italian grater; spice tin refills (recycled, of course) filled with pink and green peppercorns; all packaged in an elegant reusable box made from sustainably harvested wood certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program, (www.sfiprogram.org), finished with shrink wrap that is certified compostable corn, made by EarthFirst PLA.

“It’s only natural," says Kushi, “that as human beings we seek meaning. People want ways to reflect their values in simple day-to-day ways, and our products allow people to do that — reflecting values and ethics, creating meaning, even in a simple grain of salt."

Kushi has spent the better part of her adult life traveling the world’s most remote and deeply cultured regions. She has created bamboo micro-industries in rural Africa, replaced coca crops with organic cotton in the jungles of Peru and introduced heirloom soybean seeds to organic farmers in the U.S. Her passion for pure, healing foods is rooted in her childhood on the family farm, and steeped in Eastern wisdom from studies and work at the Kushi Institute, America's premiere macrobiotic center.

Sustainable Sourcing Organics tm is being launched at the Fancy Food Show in NYC at the Jacob Javits Center, July 8-10th, 2007. Located in the new Natural and Organic Pavilion, look for Booth 3919, visit www.himalasalt.com, 413-528-5141, or email,
Melissa@himalasalt.com.

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