Meet the Co-Founders: Philip & Tucker
Two superfood enthusiasts on a mission to source great foods and build joyful communities!
How it all began...
The story of Imlak’esh starts as many good stories do: with a backpack and a one-way ticket. When Tucker (Imlak’esh Co-Founder) quit his job and left for South America, it was thanks to a life-changing experience; after incorporating superfoods into his diet, he watched his body and mind transform, leaving him with vibrant health and wellness he had never experienced before. He realized the healing power of these incredible foods, and set off on a mission to Peru to find them at their source.
From the chilly highlands to the depths of the rainforest, Tucker was struck by the sheer abundance that surrounded him. He spent months traveling the country connecting with farmers and suppliers- learning from cacao growers in the cloud forest, traveling to remote villages and living with Shapibo Indians in the Amazon.
He saw the incredible quality of foods being grown, but also a prevailing struggle: the inability of small producers to access domestic and international markets. Here lay an opportunity, and the Imlak’esh mission was born: to create a direct line of trade that would bring the highest quality superfoods directly from source to shelf, creating sustainable livelihoods for those who grew them.
Thanks to a background in permaculture, Tucker knew the importance of sustainability. He set off in search of foods grown with the most earth-friendly practices possible: organic and wild crafted superfoods grown to support reforestation and polycultural projects. He connected with family farms, co-operatives and small producers he could be sure would not only safeguard the planet, but its people too, paying them a fair wages and upholding their rights.
Tucker returned to California where, with Co-Founder Philip, they started Imlak’esh Organics. They designed eco-friendly packaging, built a certified vegan kitchen, hired an amazing team of superfood revolutionaries and began selling organic superfoods up and down the Californian coast. Since selling their very first jar of cacao at a local market, Imlak’esh has grown beyond their expectations. They have been able to give back to communities both at home and in South America, strengthen their sources and find powerful new foods from Peru and beyond. The adventure continues- thank you for joining us on our mission to bring healing superfoods to the people!
