Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Walden.
Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We are Chris and Jessica, two recent graduates of the Earth System Science in the UCI PhD program.
Jessica grew up in Orange County and spent her summers as a Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard, where she not only learned to respect the beach but to also take care of it. From a young age, she observed the plastic litter that plagued our beaches. She went to UC Santa Cruz for their Marine Biology program and later received a Master’s degree in Oceanography at the Sorbonne in France.
Chris grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, spending as much time as he could on the shores of Lake Tahoe. He served in the Marine Corps for 10 years, where he spent ample time aboard ships looking for pirates, but hoping to spot whales. He turned his mindset for service into environmental action by getting his Bachelor’s degree at UCI in Earth System Science, where he met Jessica.
And so, Amis de la Terre is born from years of research on the ocean. We have spent countless hours looking at water samples from our local beaches and finding microplastics in every single sample. One of the best ways to make a difference is through action! So we present to you an easy, affordable, and enjoyable environment in which you can get what you need without contributing to the waste cycle.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our struggles are definitely linked to finances. We did as much of this as we could ourselves in the beginning and have now been open one year. We are hoping to be able to hire someone soon but our biggest hurdle is getting the word out that we exist. I think a lot of people would be interested in shopping this way however they are hard to reach. Our funds for marketing are limited.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in high-quality, fresh, organic pantry staples. We have everything from nuts and seeds to grains, flours, legumes, and pastas. We have a wide selection of bulk herbs and spices. We also carry high-quality organic oils, vinegar, and sweeteners.
What sets us apart is the atmosphere we strive to create. Our store is bright and friendly, clean, and simple. We want you to feel like you’ve found yourself in a little mom-and-pop market in the south of France.
We also try to add local products wherever we can. We carry local honey, seasonings, vinegars, and chocolates.
Our food is affordable and high quality. We don’t want to be an exclusive store. We want everyone to be able to have access to plastic-free & organic food.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think more of these stores will pop up. I hope they will exist in every city all over the country. I hope large grocery stores will invest more space into bulk sections to help eliminate more plastic waste.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amisdelaterremarket.com
- Instagram: Amisdelaterremarket
- Facebook: Amisdelaterremarket
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/Gp35Br04ih
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