Heaven Bliss: a return to organic foods for the family

VIDYA THURAB

In 2013 life would change for Akeila Dalrymple when she found out she was pregnant with her first child.

Like any expectant mother she started researching the best ways to care for her daughter, Avaniyah Lawrence. She decided to do some research into what ingredients were used to make baby formulas and cereals. Through her research she discovered that preservatives and synthetic ingredients were used in some of the formulas and cereals found on the market. Dalrymple wanted a healthier alternative for her daughter – baby food that was made from produce grown without pesticides, formulas and cereals that didn't contain preservatives, additives or any synthetic ingredients.

Determined to find a more organic source of nutrition for her baby, Dalrymple started researching online the process of making organic gluten-free products, including flours. She also sought advice from her mother Sheila Dalrymple.

"I did a lot of research, my mom had a lot of experience in making cassava farine, growing up they used to make farine to survive on, and the process is very similar so I built on that knowledge, a kind of generational hand me down."

The mother-to-be from Carenage also consulted her paediatric doctor on her concerns. "I did mention it to our doctor and he said it (ground provision flours) was a fine meal or formula replacement."

Dalrymple recalled her thought-process at the time. "I didn't want to give my daughter any formula or cereal. The research I did caused me to be cautious in what I wanted to feed her. I started to dry the cassava and grind it to make flour to make porridge for her and after that it kind of grew into an idea for a business from there."

Through encouragement from family members and friends who were pleased after using the provision flours Dalrymple made in their own recipes and meals at home, she began contemplating the start of her business.

To get her business up and running Dalrymple would need to gather all the information she could to make her vision a reality.

She entered a mentorship programme at the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri), where she learned business management, how to process and dry produce to make flour and powders and the type of equipment needed to test temperatures, grind and refine the raw material to make the final products.

Through trial and error, experimenting with different types of produce, drying temperatures and selecting the best quality organically produced vegetables, Dalrymple was able to refine her production process to produce fully organic products to put onto the market.

But it was support from her mother that was integral to bring her business to life. "My mother always supports her kids once they are doing something positive. Being a single mom and needing a steady source of income, my mom told me, 'well you know this could actually be something profitable,' and it just grew from there. This is a niche, innovative and healthy product and interest by customers was also a big encouragement." She was further motivated in 2015 to go into business for herself after losing her only source of income, a job as a dispatcher with a tech company that provided surveillance retrieval services for banks and corporate clients.

Heaven Bliss was registered in 2014 and brought a wide range of organically produced products to the health conscious food and wellness industry, such as gluten-free flours made from cassava, dasheen, sweet potato, tania, banana, plantain and rice. Heaven Bliss also makes coconut flakes, corn, pumpkin, ratchet (prickly pear cactus), aloe vera and charcoal powders.

Farm fresh and total local

Dalrymple, 32, prides herself on providing a totally local product. "We source all our raw produce locally. We try our best to get it as organic as possible. We have linked up with some selective farmers (who do not use chemical pesticides in growing their crops) to plant (produce) for us. Another thing is we don't put any kind of preservative, colourants or dyes in our stuff so it's strictly 100 per cent natural."

The rice used for the flour she produces is the locally grown Moruga hill rice.

However, she explained that providing this product is not without its challenges. "It is very difficult to source. Not many farmers plant that rice (variety) and the ones that do have it very expensive. I pay $45-$55 a pound. There are only two farmers that I know that grow it. The rice is a seasonal crop so you don't always get it and it is very difficult to get."

She also makes her own charcoal for the charcoal powder she sells by burning the flesh of dried coconuts through a process she devised to ensure the coal is not carbonated, meaning the flame does not directly touch the coconut, because when a direct flame touches it the product can become saturated with carbon monoxide.

Dalrymple explained that being organic is integral for her clientele. "Health conscious people who go gluten-free, the ones who cannot have wheat flour, they source me for alternatives for baking, making sauces, thickening soups, that kind of thing. Along with a lot of people who are intolerant or allergic to gluten or any kind of wheat product, whether it be malt or anything like that, they seek me for alternative flour."

Staying flexible

Dalrymple explained that like most small businesses, this year has been challenging for her as she is the sole provider for herself and her two daughters. "My business is direct contact, one-on-one with customers. We do a lot of farmers markets and craft trade events; because of covid19 a lot of restrictions have been put in place and a lot events were cancelled so it left a serious dent in our ability to do business but we are pushing through. We are not giving up but we are definitely facing a lot of challenges. We are finding ourselves having to manoeuvre and be flexible with the times."

Demand for her products have also suffered due the pandemic. Dalrymple said: "On an average, now we produce 300 packs per product per month, out of that we would sell 175 to 200 if we really push but pre-covid we would make close to a thousand and all would sell."

Heaven Bliss is a family-run business and all products are produced by Dalrymple, her mother and father.

Dalrymple said she believes the causes of the drop in sales is because while "the willingness to purchase is there ... the reality of it is they (customers) cannot afford it. They are actually watching their spending habits. Pre-covid19 a lot of people were willing to buy and support trying something new, now people are only willing to buy what they need."

One of the business's biggest selling products used to be the provision flours but due to an increase in competition Dalrymple has lost some sales, although she has noticed an increase in her other products. "Now my main selling products are charcoal, aloe vera and ratchet powders."

Another major challenge Dalrymple is having is being able to source biodegradable bags and ecofriendly packaging for her products.

"We have no choice but to use plastic and foil packaging for now. We try to get eco friendly packaging like craft paper and rice paper packaging but they are expensive. We would really love to go full organic, 100 per cent natural. Everything must be able to be returned to the earth. Zero wastage is our motto."

However, these set backs have not slowed her down as she continues to adjust her business operations to meet with the new challenges. "Now we are doing a lot more online advertising, we are posting a lot more on our Instagram and other social media platforms, we also do follow up calls with customers just to check on them to see if everything is okay, if they need a top up on products."

Another avenue Dalrymple is considering, which may help make her business sustainable, is to meet and collaborate with gourmet supermarkets and stores and get them to stock and sell her products. One store that already stocks her products is Starlite pharmacy.

She envisions that this may be a viable solution for her products to reach a wider customer base and help her clientele access her products safely by using the store's delivery services when purchasing products.

Dalrymple continues to look for ways to expand her business as she hopes her health products inspire others to eat better and live healthier lifestyles.

One vision she has for the future of her business is for it to reach an international market. "I would like to see my business on the large, international scale and to see the local health food industry grow and to be a major source supplier for public institutions that provide food for the population like the school feeding programme and caterers that provide food for patients in the public health care services."

Heaven Bliss is operated out of Dalrymple's home in Carenage and can be contacted via phone at 305-4782, the Heaven Bliss Facebook page or on Instagram at heavenbliss212.