With the holidays right around the corner, in this week’s Sustainable Spotlight we share the story behind a sustainable vanilla brand that is perfect to include in your holiday recipes or to give as a delicious gift. Native Vanilla was founded by Dan Edmiston, who grew up in Papua New Guinea and later returned to build a brand that both empowered the local community while bringing organically farmed, sustainably sourced top-quality vanilla to consumers. We chatted with Edmiston to learn more about the inspirational story behind this sustainable vanilla brand.

Can you share a little about your background and what led you to launching Native Vanilla?

I spent the majority of my childhood in Papua New Guinea. I grew up in the jungle, speaking local languages and paddling my wooden dugout around with my local friends. I spent the next 20 years of my life in Africa building a financial services business. During the 20 years in Africa, I could not stop thinking about how I wanted to get back to PNG to empower the people. I have spent the last three years doing exactly that. You can read more detail on my journey here: nativevanilla.com/pages/about.

What is your most popular product?  

Many of our customers buy our vanilla extract beans as they love to make their own vanilla extract. Homemade vanilla extract tastes much more flavourful than the vanilla extract in the store and is way cheaper. 

Can you share a little about the steps your brand takes towards being sustainable?

When working with farmers we want to ensure that sustainable agricultural practices are being used to protect their land, environment, and animals. These can be implemented through systems like permaculture and regenerative agriculture. It’s also important that we work with farmers to look at implementation of polyculture systems, allowing for multiple agricultural incomes and protection against commodity prices and natural disasters.

How do you give back to  the community where the vanilla beans are grown? Can you tell us about your commitment to fair trade agriculture and what ethically-sourced vanilla means to the brand? 

The Native Vanilla charter includes three core principles that include ethical sourcing, community development, and ensuring that sustainable agricultural practices are used.  

For ethical sourcing, we ensure that the purchasing of vanilla is done in a sustainable way which includes utilization of fair trade principles, farmer and product traceability, and ensuring cultural preservation. In Papua New Guinea, there are over 700 completely unique languages which have their own cultures. We want to make sure that we are helping these communities thrive while still allowing them to preserve their cultures, which is the heart of who they are.

Every community we deal with has different need requirements. Instead of assuming their needs based on our Western views, we engage through a collective and collaborative approach with the communities to hear from them what they need.  Some examples are water tanks for potable water, small boats that assist villagers getting from remote coastal areas to small towns where they can get to supplies or medical attention or local schools.

Do you have an all-time favorite vanilla bean recipe?

I always love a good smoothie.

DIRECTIONS

• Split the vanilla bean in half to expose the seeds. Kitchen scissors make this process clean and simple or you can cut the pods down the middle and scrape out the seeds.

• Add vanilla seeds and the rest of ingredients to a blender. Blend on high until mixed well.

• Add more almond milk for a thinner smoothie or add more ice to thicken it up.

• Serve and enjoy any time of day!

Any vanilla-bean recipes that are must-haves for the holidays?

What are the holidays without an eggnog recipe? This recipe is quick and easy—8 ingredients and only 15 minutes to make.

Eggnog Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

 Ingredients (makes 12 servings)

• 6 large egg yolks

• 5/8 cup granulated white sugar

• 4 cups of milk

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• 2 Native Vanilla Gourmet Bourbon Beans  

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 ½ cups of heavy whipping cream

• ½ cup of rum (if giving to children or those who don’t drink, leave this out)

Any fun facts about vanilla?  

Did you know that each vanilla orchid has to be hand-pollinated within 24 hours of flowering? Vanilla orchid flowers are hermaphroditic, meaning they contain both male and female parts. Because of a plant tissue in each flower called the rostellum that covers the stem, the flower cannot self-pollinate.  

 [Images courtesy of Native Vanilla]

Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy