Interning at Jasberry for the past three months has been exciting and fast-paced. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a world-class team, see the ins and outs of company processes, and experience an abundance of Thai food with my amazing coworkers. Amid this excitement, the highlight of my experience has been our 2-day field trip to visit the farms in Chiang Rai, Thailand. As a Canadian sustainability student with a keen interest in agriculture, I have spent endless hours reading about sustainable and climate-adapted farming, yet have never had the chance to see it myself. During the field trip, I saw rice planting in action, discovered the complexities of organic farming, and interviewed Jasberry farmers about their views on sustainable farming. Needless to say, these two days in Northern Thailand were enlightening and life-changing.
Reviving my optimism
As a sustainability student, I am skeptical of anything that claims to be “environmentally friendly”. Leading up to our farm visits, I kept my expectations low: Is there really going to be any biodiversity on the field? Do Jasberry farmers actually practice sustainable water management? However, when we arrived at our first farm visit, I was blown away.
The first farm we visited belongs to Nanmoon, a 78-year-old Jasberry Superfood Rice seed grower who has been farming his whole life. Instantly, you can hear the field bursting with life: birds chirping, insects humming, and frogs croaking. Every rai—the Thai land measurement—was bordered by a thick line of trees. Next to the diverse vegetable garden was a fish farm, functioning as a second source of income and organic fertilizer. Nanmoon’s farm is a bright, lively place, home to countless animal and plant species. All my doubts about sustainable farming were washed away.
An experience 100 books cannot buy
My last four years have been spent in the comfort of a university classroom. I’ve listened to hours of lectures about regenerative and organic farming. I’ve heard Canadian professors describe the viewpoints and struggles of small-scale farmers. Yet, I knew that if I wanted to begin understanding agricultural processes, I needed to see it myself. I am so grateful to have been given that opportunity with the Jasberry team.
Our field trip was timed to coincide with the rice planting season. Despite my scientific reading on rice planting, I still wasn’t sure what to expect. I was lucky enough to see two different rice planting-methods: Mechanized planting and parachuting. It turns out that throwing baby rice seedlings into the air is both effective and fun! There is no textbook or lecture that can replace the learning of walking in the mud, throwing seeds into the soil, or riding alongside Rouy on her planter.
The long road from mission to results
This trip was filled with eye-opening moments. One moment particularly stood out: As we pulled up to Rouy’s rice farm, I noticed the beautiful house on the land. I was admittedly shocked—Jasberry was founded to lift Thai farmers out of poverty, and I did not expect to see anything resembling wealth. I asked my boss about the house. He said, “When I was here two years ago, there was only a wooden bench where this house now is”.
The average Jasberry farmer experiences a 14x increase in income by switching to Jasberry Superfood Rice. That is life-changing. Rouy’s children went to university to become computer engineers, and she hopes they return to farm the land. That is the amazing power of a brand that truly cares about social impact. Companies often fall short of claims social and environmental claims because conducting transformative business is hard; it has taken the Jasberry team 13 years of working with farmers, dodging shotty deals with rice mills, navigating certifications, and being rejected from an endless stream of grocery retailers to build a self-sustaining business. Now, the brand is in Whole Foods and other leading supermarkets across the USA. Yet, the challenges of upholding high farmer incomes and strong environmental standards still remain. It is their dedication to helping people like Rouy—while supporting consumer health and the environment—that keeps the team fighting these challenges.
This team’s unending commitment to their mission is unlike anything I’ve seen. I’m honoured to be part of the team this summer.
