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Every year we award our Local Supplier Development Grants to three of our Utah partners. This year the winners are Mama Africa, Rojas Farms, and Solstice Chocolate. The year 2021 is also notable for the recipients all being women-owned businesses and Rojas Farms and Mama Africa are also BIPOC (black, indigenous, and other people of color).
Rojas Farms
Rojas Farms of West Jordan is an agricultural cooperative specializing in fresh produce, melon farming, and growing vegetables.
Solstice Chocolate
Solstice Chocolate is an artisan chocolate maker located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate is handcrafted using the finest single origin cacao from all over the world.
Mama Africa
Mama Africa produces the spicy and authentic African pili pili sauce made from local raw ingredients.
“It’s so rewarding to be able to offer these local products in our stores and support the continued growth and success of these diverse, women-owned businesses,” said Mark Jensen, Harmons’ president and CEO. “We are so proud to have the opportunity to be involved with so many of our local small businesses that exemplify excellence, initiative, and community pride.”
“The variety and diversity of locally grown food and products we have available here in Utah is astounding,” said Todd Jensen, executive vice president of sales at Harmons. “Being able to contribute and support the continued growth of our dynamic food scene and these local businesses is what Harmons strives for day in and day out.”
Each grant is for $5,000 and the money is put to good use by these local makers, being used for expansions and equipment, hiring new employees and adding to our local workforce, and making risky ventures a little less dicey.
Harmons past grant recipients include:
2020: Bitter’s Lab, Salsa Queen, and Days Fresh Produce
2019: Chocolate Conspiracy, Mamachari Kombucha, and Shaffer Farms
2018: Bar 10 Beef, McFarland Farms, and Hollow Tree Honey
2017: Caffe Ibis, Heber Valley Artisan Cheese, Kodiak Cakes
2016: Mezzo Chocolates, RubySnap Fresh Cookies, Intermountain Specialty Food Group, Drake Family Farms