In 2017, frustrated by turmeric’s bland supermarket form and the low wages farmers earned, Mumbai-born Sana Javeri Kadri founded Diaspora Co in San Francisco. Starting with Pragati Turmeric, she cut out middlemen to pay regenerative farmers in India directly—and added each grower’s name and story to every jar.
Diaspora Co has since expanded to source 30+ single-origin spices—from black pepper to cardamom—from 150 small-scale farms across India and Sri Lanka. Long-term contracts, fair pricing, and investments in eco-friendly practices like cover cropping ensure that quality and equity go hand in hand.
The brand’s transparent model quickly found fans: Forbes 30 Under 30 recognized Sana in 2021, and Diaspora Co opened its first U.S. storefront in San Francisco in early 2024. By October, it had launched in the U.K., bringing its signature spices—and farmer stories—to a global audience.
Sana Javeri Kadri
Each pouch is a journey: vivid spices that capture soil, climate, and tradition, plus the promise of economic justice and environmental renewal. Looking ahead, Diaspora Co is exploring new varieties—saffron from Kashmir, sesame from Rajasthan, even kokum and amchur—while staying true to its mission: reimagining the spice trade as a force for community empowerment and culinary discovery.
Beyond sourcing exceptional spices, Diaspora Co engages with its community through virtual cooking workshops and storytelling events that connect consumers directly with the farmers behind each harvest. By sharing videos, farm notes, and recipe ideas, the brand turns every pouch into a conversation—demystifying spice origins and building trust. As Diaspora Co looks ahead, it plans to expand its educational initiatives and deepen its partnerships with regenerative farms, aiming to inspire a more equitable and transparent global food system—one spice at a time. Read more
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