My latest obsession (not the kale contingent. That's a given), are Just Pure Foods vegetable chips, they're my obsession.
When I decided to give these fellas a try I thought I'd just stumble over ANOTHER delicious but pretty standard kale chip. Let me tell you, these guys are taking the kale way beyond, with their own mix of ingredients and flavours. Not just kale either. Oh no. They've dehydrated your humble baton of green, the zucchini, and made it rich, salty, chunky strips of unbelievable crunchiness. What they've done to the tomato is nothing short of a triumph too. This is snacking like ROYALTY!
They are different from all the other dehydrated kale/veggie chips on the market. They use healthful sprouted buckwheat, some have chickpea miso (soy free), and not the conventional nutritional yeast, to impart a cheesy flavour, and it adds such a depth of flavour. Their chips are generously covered, and it makes them superior and satiating. A guilt-free, gluten free snack. They use natural coconut sugar (doesn't put stress on your blood sugar levels the same way that white sugar does) for the Kale Apple Maple and the Chocolate Kalenola (they taunt you with their greatness!). All of their ingredients ensure the best product and taste. I think their packaging may be more eco-friendly even. Using paper and foil for their resealable pouches.
As you know, I also get a kick out of it if the company founders are good guys. So to like the company, not just their food. I like to see them walking their talk or just know they are wanting to make social change.
I contacted Justin, the founder of Just Pure Foods. He said he'd be happy to answer a few questions.
Which flavours did you launch first?
I first started with making Cheesy Kale out of my house 3 years ago. I was creating raw meals and snacks for Janet Jackson via her nutritionist and testing out a bunch of dehydrated snack mixes.
How long did it take you to create your extensive range?
It took about 8 months from formally establishing the business to going to the market to develop our first 5 products (Cheesy Kale (free of nuts and yeast), Cocoa Kale, Zucchini Strips, Onion Rings, and Jalapeno Tomato Chips). The Tomato Chips were inspired from crop surpluses of local Heirloom tomatoes we were getting from Tutti Frutti Farms. They happened to have a ton of jalapenos too the couple weeks I started developing the flavor, so that became the first flavor! We ended up switching to Roma Tomatoes because of availability, which was sad for me as a chef, but allowed us to increase our production outside of the summer tomato season. The creative process is a constant battle for perfection.
What is your favourite flavour?
My current favorite flavor has to be the Maple Cranberry KaleNola. It's the newest of all the products, and I just have such a sweet tooth and love having it in a bowl of almond milk and fresh fruit.
What stores stock them? Can you ship internationally?
We are currently scattered about Canada, and will have a full Canadian roll-out. Same goes for Austrailia, we already have distribution lined up. Beyond that, we get inquiries everyday from abroad, but we gotta be able to share it locally first! We're sold in Whole Foods throughout Southern California, and then scattered about the country in independent health food stores. Soon our product will be available throughout Oregon, Washington, and the Rocky Mountain Region.
Check out the website as they are introducing their products in new stores all the time and their international shippers.
I twisted Justin's arm for you and he wants you to try them too. He is offering 20% off. Use the coupon code JPF20PERCENT on the website, justpurefoods.com.
I cannot recommend these snacks enough. They are great to take hiking, put in your lunch box or have as an 'on the go' breakfast. I am gathering a bunch of flavours for my next flight. Tomato Pesto for starters, Sesame Dijon Zucchini for entree, and the Kalenola to finish. Imagine one day if airline companies supplied kefir and kombucha on board to round off my raw chip fest. Now that would be something!
