17 natural products that feed companies' missions

Stocking the right products is a reflection of a retailer's values. These natural and organic brands all have inspiring business practices that improve the world one bar, bite and sip at a time.

Products that support people 

Dagoba Chocolate 84% Cacao Gems Extra Dark

Dagoba has been owned by Hershey’s since 2006 and is an example of how big doesn’t necessarily mean bad when it comes to mission. In fact, Dagoba’s scale has made it possible for the brand to have even more positive impact. In 2016 Dagoba founded the One for All Cacao Project, which strengthens communities by advancing the role of women in cacao production and entrepreneurship. Currently, One for All is working with farmers in the Selva Central region of Peru. 

Tanka Bar Buffalo Meat with Cranberries, Apple & Orange Peel

This protein-dense Certified B Corporation meat bar is made with sustainably sourced buffalo meat and fruity add-ins such as cranberries, apples and orange peel (trust us, the flavors work). Tanka Bar was founded on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, to create a market for a heritage protein source that improves health of people and the prairie ecosystem. Tanka also established an organization in 2014 called TankaFund, which provides grants to native buffalo ranchers. 

Mayorga Organics Costa Rica Perla Negra Whole Bean Coffee

Sourced from a small farm in Costa Rica called Las Lajas, this delicate USDA Organic coffee features raspberry and cocoa notes. Mayorga is a purpose-led business whose mission is to eliminate systemic poverty in rural Latin America through responsible trade of artisanal organic foods. The company achieves this by regarding farmers as partners rather than just producers, paying certified Fair Trade premiums and helping cooperatives diversify products for greater economic stability. 

Dave’s Killer Bread Good Seed

This fluffy, filling USDA Organic sliced bread contains a medley of seeds such as whole flax seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds, which add fiber and texture to your sandwich or toast. But we love this company most for its commitment to hire formerly incarcerated people who often have trouble finding steady employment. Co-founder Dave Dahl spent 15 years in prison before starting Dave’s Killer Bread with his brother, and knows first-hand the power of getting and giving a second chance. 

Nudo Adopt Olio D’Oliva Extra Vergine

Nudo offers first-harvest, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil, which features a fruity, spicy taste—a function of being picked and pressed the same day to protect the flavor. It’s perfect to drizzle over pizza, salads or vegetables as a finishing oil. Notably, Nudo pioneered a unique purchasing model that allows consumers to “adopt” an olive tree, and receive oil directly from it (kind of like a CSA for one tree). The idea, says Nudo, affords small farmers economic security and keeps traditional farming practices such as hand harvesting alive. 

NuttZo Bold Bitez Peanut Pro Cacao Nibs Probiotics

These 200-calorie bites contain an impressive nutrient punch. Living up to its namesake, NuttZo is made primarily with peanuts, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts and hazelnuts. Pea protein elevates the macronutrient content. When launching her company, founder Danielle Dietz-LiVolsi also started Project Left Behind, a nonprofit supported by NuttZo sales that helps fund small orphanages around the world that lack backing from state donors. 

Products that champion the planet

Bos Rooibos Iced Tea Lime & Ginger Flavored

Hailing from the beautiful expanse of Cape Town, South Africa, comes this delightful rooibos-based tea. This caffeine-free beverage contains organic rooibos, cane sugar, lime and ginger for a sweet tea with a kick. Notably, Bos partners with the nonprofit Greenpop to plant and maintain one tree for every 2,000 units of BOS sold. To date, the company has planted 17,000 trees in underprivileged schools and public spaces. The company hopes to plant 50,000 trees by 2020. 

Nature’s Path Organic Golden Turmeric Cereal

This legacy brand has been a steward of environmentally sound agriculture since day one. The company operates on achieving six sustainability goals including growing organic, becoming carbon neutral, operating zero-waste manufacturing facilities and more. Plus, through the 1% For The Planet program, Nature’s Path has donated more than $3 million to groups working to conserve endangered animals and their habitats. This tasty bright yellow cereal is an addictive embodiment of the brand’s work. 

EPIC Performance Bar Peanut Butter Chocolate

EPIC played an integral role in teaching the natural industry what the possibilities of regenerative agriculture are. The biggest takeaway? It ain’t just for plants. Holistically managed cattle, bison, pork and salmon play an integral role in improving soil, and specifically prairie, health. EPIC’s new vegetarian nutrition bars feature dates, nuts and cage-free egg whites, a move that EPIC says is the first step to improving the egg supply chain. 

Patagonia Provisions Mussels

Patagonia, the uber-popular outdoor clothing company, is lauded for being a bastion of sustainable business practices. The company’s food arm, Patagonia Provisions, upholds the same environmental values. A great example is this new line of canned mussels—one of the most sustainable types of seafood available—that are sourced from family farms in Galicia, Spain. Currently, a USDA Organic certification for seafood doesn’t exist, so Patagonia made sure this product is EU certified organic. 

Nutiva Blissful Grapefruit Organic Coconut Body Oil

Nutiva is expanding its regeneratively sourced ingredients across categories. Made with just two food-grade ingredients (organic coconut oil and organic grapefruit oil), these simple sprays add shine and hydration to the skin and ‘do. This brand earns bonus points for operating a zero-waste headquarters and warehouse, and purchases carbon offsets to mitigate climate change caused by atmospheric CO2. 

Just Water Infused Organic Lemon

Sure, Just Water is packaged in a paper bottle with a sugarcane-based cap to reduce plastic packaging in the industry. But what’s particularly cool about this Certified B Corporation is how Water partners with the city of Glens Falls, New York, to strategically source spring water sustainably. The company uses less than 3% of Glens Falls’ excess water, and pays six times the water rate, which the city uses to fund repairs for its aging water pipes and infrastructure. 

Products that do good with profits

Clif Bar Energy Granola White Chocolate Macadamia Nut

Clif Bar is well-known for its conscious business practices that protect the planet and uphold people, which includes incentivizing employees to bike to work, providing paid sabbaticals and even selling 20% of the company to employees. But we’re most impressed with the company’s Clif Bar Family Foundation for providing grants to nonprofits that expand organic acreage, investigate environmental toxins and improve food access. 

Kize Raw Energy Bar Almond Butter

Made with a nourishing blend of five wholesome ingredients, this protein-dense bar features almond butter, gluten-free rolled oats, raw honey, unsweetened coconut and grass-fed whey protein isolate for long-lasting satiety. Named after the Japanese concept “kaizen,” which encourages people and organizations to continuously improve. Kize does this partly by donating 10 percent of every bar sold to global missions that include mitigating hunger and improving community infrastructure in Haiti. 

Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Caramel & Sea Salt

This scrumptious dark chocolate bar is filled with creamy, sweet caramel and spiked with flakes of sea salt—a worthy after-dinner treat. In addition to being made with Fair Trade ingredients, Endangered Species donates 10 percent of profits to organizations fighting to protect wildlife. To date, Endangered Species has given more than $5 million to conservation nonprofits such as Xerces Society, SeeTurtles, Chimp Haven, Rainforest Trust and more. 

Growing Roots Organic Coconut and Seed Bites

Launched by Unilever, this USDA Organic line of fun and tasty snacks is dedicated to supporting urban farming initiatives that allow people who live in the city to experience the magic of eating local, sustainable food. Growing Roots partners with Green City Force, Whole Kids Foundation and Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture by donating an impressive 50% of profits. The goal is to create urban farms in six underserved neighborhoods in New York. 

Larabar Kid Chocolate Mint Brownie

Designed in a kid-friendly serving size, nine whole-food ingredients such as buckwheat flour, Fair Trade chocolate, coconut oil, chia seeds, honey and peppermint oil make a craveable better-for-you brownie. This Colorado-based brand is passionate about supporting urban farms. For example, Larabar sponsors Denver Urban Garden’s Grow A Garden program, which provides seeds, seedlings and gardening workshops to in-need individuals, families, seniors and groups to improve local food access.