Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlin Mogentale.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kaitlin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
During my final year in college, I watched a friend juice a carrot and was aghast when I saw a large amount of fresh pulp produced as a byproduct. Immediately, I wondered what LA’s expansive network of larger commercial juiceries were doing with fresh fruit and vegetable pulp. After calling up a few, it was clear there weren’t many sustainable solutions available. In one week, truckloads of organic produce pulp might be sent to the landfill from just one juicery!
I worked at the Garden School Foundation in South Los Angeles, where I saw kids coming to class eating Twinkies and Cheetos for breakfast. Queue a larger theme – only 13% of Americans eat their daily servings of fresh fruits and veggies, and less than 10% get their daily servings of fiber. Here were two discrepant issues in front of me – a surplus of one resource (fresh fruit and vegetable fiber) and a lack of access in many communities across the country.
Flash forward to today, Pulp Pantry is building the next generation of sustainable, nutritious products that will do their part to keep good food out of landfills. By leveraging byproduct, nutritious fruit and vegetable ingredients to create shelf-stable snacks, we can bring greater access to fruits, vegetables, and fiber for all – distributing across the corners of the U.S. at an attainable price. And for every pound of fresh fruit and vegetable pulp we save – we keep 38 gallons of water from going to waste.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always hiccups along the way – but one thing I’ve learned is to start every project with the end in mind. Start your company with the end in mind! Envision what success looks like, and help to communicate that with every person you get involved. Clear communication will help to reduce speed bumps and create alignment along the way. Personally, I learn best by surrounding myself with great mentors, reading and listening to podcasts from entrepreneurs who are a few steps ahead.
what should we know about Pulp Pantry? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We stand out as one of the shelf-stable, first packaged food items made from 50% fresh vegetables in approachable, snackable product formats (such as granolas, cereals, crackers, cookies). We’re growing with a rising tide in health and sustainability-conscious consumers as a brand with a values-aligned story. We keep up with the cutting edge of nutritional preferences such as grain-free and refined sugar-free, working closely with nutritionists and influencers who have worked hard to understand how our bodies metabolize certain ingredients.
On the supply side, we’re piloting a model for sourcing upcycled fresh fruit and vegetable pulp, with the capacity to process thousands of pounds a week – and we’re looking to grow this significantly. We hope that we can provide a sustainable solution to juiceries and food processors out there, all while working towards a shared mission to make healthy food more accessible.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Start every project with the end in mind. Start your company with the end in mind! Envision what success looks like, and help to communicate that with every person you get involved. Clear communication will help to reduce speed bumps and create alignment along the way. Personally, I learn best by surrounding myself with great mentors, reading and listening to podcasts from entrepreneurs who are a few steps ahead.
Pricing:
- Cinnamon Toast Superfood Granola Bites $8.99
- Vanilla & Sea Salt Superfood Granola Bites $8.99
- Cacao Crunch Superfood Granola Bites $8.99
- 3-Flavor Sampler Pack Superfood Granola Bites $9.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pulppantry.com
- Phone: 847-767-5057
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/pulppantry
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pulppantry
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pulppantry
Image Credit:
Joanna Rentz, Jonathan Sanche7
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