The meez Podcast Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar of Burlap & Barrel
#22. Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar are the co-founders of Burlap & Barrel, a spice company and public benefit corporation with a mission is to end inequality and exploitation in food systems that disenfranchise skilled farmers. Burlap & Barrel works directly with small farmers around the world, sourcing only single origin spices. Their focus is not just on procuring the spices but also on helping the farmers incorporate sustainable practices to ensure their businesses are economically viable.
The results have been outstanding, as Burlap & Barrel has been able to sustainably procure some of the most incredible spices directly from the farmers' harvest to our kitchen. The founders share their journey of starting the company and the story behind their first spice discovery – wild cumin from Afghanistan.
Throughout the episode, Ethan and Ori discuss their sourcing process and the relationships they build with visionary farmers who prioritize flavor and sustainability over high yields. They emphasize the importance of visiting the farmers in person to develop a genuine understanding of their practices and establish trust. Burlap & Barrel's vision goes beyond just providing exceptional spices; it's about creating a positive impact on farmers' lives and preserving cultural and heritage varieties.
Where to find Ethan Frisch:
Where to find Ori Zohar:
Where to find host Josh Sharkey:
In this episode, we cover:
(2:10) Gorilla Ice Cream
(5:13) Ori’s Startup
(7:52) Why Burlap & Barrel started
(10:58) How Burlap & Barrel finds their partners
(15:32) How Burlap & Barrel validates quality
(17:44) Picking a White Peppercorn partner
(22:07) Burlap & Barrel Origin blends
(27:10) Direct to Restaurant to Direct to Consumer
(30:46) The Supply chain and commoditization of spices
(32:37) What is Iru?
(35:36) The spice industry in America
(40:12) Domestic versus International sourcing
(42:01) How climate change effects sourcing
(48:08) Burlap & Barrel on Shark Tank
(55:34) Working with Floyd and Barkha Cardoz