Littleton Food Co-op

a community-owned market

Producer Spotlight: Gimme Seaweed

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Producer: Gimme Seaweed

Location: San Rafael, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: dried seaweed snacks

Website: gimmeseaweed.com

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated worldwide to bring awareness to and honor the cross-sector contributions made by people of such cultural background. And that includes impacts in our food system! While foodies of all backgrounds collectively contribute to what we eat, how we eat, and how we produce food, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have faced widespread systemic barriers and erasure from history, making AANHPI an important time to acknowledge and celebrate those contributions and the people behind them. Furthermore, we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month in May specifically to commemorate both the anniversary of the first arrival of a Japanese immigrant on American soil, and the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad, whose Western-half was primarily completed by Chinese laborers. While the contribution of Asian Americans to such events was not recognized until much later, both demonstrate the obstacles, and perseverance, that deem AANHPI Heritage Month worthy of annual recognition. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

You might read the brand name Gimme Seaweed and hear the sounds of children reaching for the crispy snack packets in the Littleton Co-op’s aisles saying “gimme, gimme!” However, founder Annie Chun’s USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified seaweed products play on the Korean word for seaweed, “gim.” She grew up in central Seoul, Korea, where food from the sea was more common than food from the land. A household staple was seaweed that her mother would dry and roast in her house. She knew that seaweed was not only delicious, but also packed with vitamins and fiber, and deserved to have a larger place in the American diet. After selling her first company (you may recognize her “Annie Chun’s” noodle kits) she took on the challenge of introducing seaweed to the US market with husband Steve Broad. Furthermore, she wanted to take it out of grocery stores’ ethnic food aisles. Today, she continues to adapt her childhood snack for new generations across the country to enjoy a crispy and healthy snack. 

Organic seaweed growth naturally has benefits to oceanic habitats by reducing water acidification and habitat creation for various species, but Annie Chun has now taken ocean protection to a further level. Through Gimme Seaweed’s partnership with rePurpose, every purchase of Gimme helps fight plastic pollution, brings ethical waste management to underserved areas, and economically empowers waste workers.

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Pop & Bottle

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Producer: Pop & Bottle

Location: San Francisco, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: canned lattes

Website: popandbottle.com

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated worldwide to bring awareness to and honor the cross-sector contributions made by people of such cultural background. And that includes impacts in our food system! While foodies of all backgrounds collectively contribute to what we eat, how we eat, and how we produce food, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have faced widespread systemic barriers and erasure from history, making AANHPI an important time to acknowledge and celebrate those contributions and the people behind them. Furthermore, we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month in May specifically to commemorate both the anniversary of the first arrival of a Japanese immigrant on American soil, and the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad, whose Western-half was primarily completed by Chinese laborers. While the contribution of Asian Americans to such events was not recognized until much later, both demonstrate the obstacles, and perseverance, that deem AANHPI Heritage Month worthy of annual recognition. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

When Pop & Bottle CEO and co-founder Jash Mehta moved from London to San Francisco, she hardly expected to be joined across the pond by her best friend and eventual co-founder Blair Hardy less than a year later. The duo quickly immersed themselves in the world of farm-to-table meals, backyard agriculture, and clean eating. The one “compromise” to their healthy eating, plant-based lifestyle was their daily coffee ritual. So they decided to venture into making a ready-to-drink latte with clean and plant-based ingredients. Jash had grown up watching her mom be an entrepreneur and business owner. But in the Pop & Bottle creation, Jash and Blair wanted to make sure their product encompassed the entire coffee experience. To them, drinking a daily latte was more than just consuming a beverage; it was conversation, community, and a chance to reach out to other women. As CEO, Jash continues to pour integrity into Pop & Bottle products to make sure they’re all good enough for her, her customers, and her community. 

For other founders, Jash says “Be prepared to drink a lot of caffeine! Other than that, the most important thing is an unwavering belief in yourself.” Hopefully founders and consumers alike will consider turning to Pop & Bottle to fuel their explorations into business and beyond. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: wildwonder

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Producer: wildwonder

Location: San Francisco, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: probiotic beverages

Website: drinkwildwonder.com

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated worldwide to bring awareness to and honor the cross-sector contributions made by people of such cultural background. And that includes impacts in our food system! While foodies of all backgrounds collectively contribute to what we eat, how we eat, and how we produce food, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have faced widespread systemic barriers and erasure from history, making AANHPI an important time to acknowledge and celebrate those contributions and the people behind them. Furthermore, we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month in May specifically to commemorate both the anniversary of the first arrival of a Japanese immigrant on American soil, and the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad, whose Western-half was primarily completed by Chinese laborers. While the contribution of Asian Americans to such events was not recognized until much later, both demonstrate the obstacles, and perseverance, that deem AANHPI Heritage Month worthy of annual recognition. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Wildwonder founder Rosa Li grew up with gut health on her mind – she just didn’t realize it at the time. All she knew during childhood in China was that her grandmother’s wild herb and botanical tonics soothed her stomach and lifted her spirits. The idea of “food as medicine” was always around, but it didn’t spark a business plan until many years later. In adulthood, Rosa became burnt out from a career in finance, and decided the first step to a revitalized life was a revitalized gut. She describes herself as a “foodie,” and says she has always shopped at farmers’ markets, feeling inspired by the especially bright and vibrant fruit found in California while she attended Stanford’s business school. She wanted to bring a product to market to honor her grandmother’s cultural health tonics, and saw fresh fruity flavors as a vehicle to make the beverages more palatable in the States – not to mention adding a new dimension of flavor. But the path to wildwonder wasn’t easy, and sales don’t always mean complete success. In Li’s words: “Female founders, minority founders, and solo founders just don’t get as much money. Being all three, I kind of get the short end of the stick. I also don’t come from the beverage industry, which historically has seen a lack of diversity. So, we’ve had to learn ways in which to be very strategic and very resourceful.” 

Rosa continues to use her own story to remind founders that success is not a straight line going upwards. Furthermore, she supports those in the path behind her, donating 5% of profits from wildwonder to organizations focusing on empowering women and marginalized communities. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: YAYA Organics

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Producer: YAYA Organics

Location: Hopkinton, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Sun and bug repellent for all ages

Website: yayaorganics.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

A new business doesn’t have to start out solving the world’s problems; sometimes the best place to start is focusing on the problems in your own backyard. In 2014, mother-daughter duo Alex and Rebecca were fed up with all the ticks in the backyard of their New Hampshire home. And the problem wasn’t going away – only getting worse each year. When they didn’t see any repellents on the market they felt comfortable using with their families, they decided to make their own. Right in their own backyard they researched and tested plant-based oils and other ingredients. Once they unlocked the potential of this type of people, pet, and environmentally-safe formulation, the business expanded; they brought on another partner, Valeria, and moved into mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and baby-safe formulas. Now, they are a 100% women-owned company that supports outdoor exploration in backyards across the country and beyond.

YAYA Organics stands by the idea that life outside is better, and what started as a simple observation turned into a national health solution that helps everyone live outside safely. Alex, Rebecca, and Valeria are proud to all be mothers that can now protect families beyond their own through their product lines. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Jaju Pierogi

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Producer: Jaju Pierogi

Location: Boston, MA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Frozen pierogi

Website: jajupierogi.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Jaju Pierogi is the brainchild of sisters Vanessa and Casey White, but is the culmination of the mix of food and family history stewarded by their Jaju (dziadziu, or grandfather in Polish). Their Jaju operated a Polish deli in Western Massachusetts that they were in and out of throughout child. Strong cultural roots and tradition also meant that pierogi was a well-revered (and well-stocked) food at home. Growing up and moving away from family meant straining their tether to high-quality pierogi and experiencing the yearning that ultimately inspired the creation of their business in honor of Jaju. When they took their original pierogi to their first farmers’ market, they sold out within an hour. Today, Jaju Pierogi is sold across the country in co-ops and national chains alike. The sisters even made an appearance on Shark Tank in 2025. Even as the business grows, Casey and Vanessa continue to make a commitment to cultivating positive community though hard work and enthusiasm – aka “the Jaju way.” 

In addition to their delicious pierogi, Casey and Vanessa are known for infusing Jaju Pierogi with humor and spirit, whether that’s by making social media memes, wearing a literal pierogi costume, or supporting a local Polish American Women’s scholarship. Vanessa even appeared on the Littleton Co-op podcast, That’s Rad, back in 2024!

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Bee’s Wrap

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Producer: Bee’s Wrap

Location: Middlebury, VT

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Reusable food storage

Website: beeswrap.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Sarah Kaeck might be one of the only people who gets inspired by food leftovers. In 2011, she founded Bee’s Wrap out of her New Haven, VT kitchen after feeling disillusioned by available food packaging options. She felt called to reduce plastic use for food and protect the environment from her family’s time outdoors in the Vermont wilderness and her passion for baking. She was introduced to beeswax; a renewable, fully biodegradable material with its own natural antibacterial properties. Now, Bee’s Wrap products are made by infusing organic cotton with beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil to turn it into a pliable, food safe material. Sarah also cares about her workplace environment and is determined to make Bee’s Wrap a place that is collaborative, engaged, and supportive of its workers. She is acutely aware of challenges in the workplace that overwhelmingly affect women, and implements policies, like flexible work hours and family-friendly benefits, to support a gender-balanced workforce.   

Bee’s Wrap is sold across the world, and has had a number of positive endorsements from press outlets and loyal customers alike. While the company was sold to a private investor in 2021, it continues to be run by Kaeck out of Vermont and continues to offer good care for good food.

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Back Roads Granola

By

Producer: Back Roads Granola

Location: Brattleboro, VT

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Bulk granola

Website: backroadsgranola.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Back Roads Granola started with an idea…that barely had anything to do with granola. Virginia and Peter Vogel opened a bed & breakfast in Vermont (down a “back road”), and then decided that their breakfast needed some homemade granola. Once guests had a taste of their creations, they let the Vogels know they had to sell their granola so more people could experience what was then a back road secret. Back Roads Granola became a dedicated kitchen space producing 1,000 lbs of granola a week within the first year. As the business expanded, they brought on more family members and employees until they reached 100% women ownership in 2024 from a transfer to daughters Coral and Liv. Based in Brattleboro, VT, they distribute crunchy granola made from ethically sourced ingredients, made by a close knit family team, made to be Organic, non-GMO, Glyphosate free. 

We’re glad that this yummy granola made it beyond Vermont’s back roads; the drive to get Back Roads Granola in the Littleton Co-op Bulk Department is far less treacherous! The Back Roads Granola story also exemplifies the changing landscape for women business owners who have the opportunity to grow and expand their family business and second-generation owners. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Auspicious Brew

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Producer: Auspicious Brew

Location: Dover, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Hard kombucha

Website: auspiciousbrew.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

When Helen Leavitt wanted to open NH’s first brewery for kombucha, there was no shortage of odds against her. Not only was she faced with the people who didn’t even know what her product was, and the people who *did* know what kombucha was and were vehement opposers, she was diving headfirst into the male-dominated fermentation industry. Even though kombucha – a fermented tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) – has been enjoyed around the world for centuries, the idea of dedicating an entire space to its creation and enjoyment was still a disruption. But, for Helen, it was simply a continuation of her background in tending medicinal plants and mixology, and an opportunity to “[commune] with nature to create a living beverage.” Furthermore, Auspicious Brew has created a vibrant community space “where inclusivity is our driving force.” They even include visitors in the brewing process at their Dover, NH brewery, keeping the entire process out in the open (except when it needs a climate-controlled environment). 

The work of Helen and Auspicious Brew demonstrate that your beverage choice can deliver benefits beyond gut health – it can support small business owners, strengthen local economies, and uplift communities. Not to mention taste fabulous! 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Port City Pretzels

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Producer: Port City Pretzels

Location: Whitefield, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Hard pretzel snack bags

Website: portcitypretzels.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Meet the people behind “The People’s Pretzel,” aka Port City Pretzels! Suzanne Foley founded Port City Pretzels out of Portsmouth, NH in 2015; but, the pretzels themselves go back much further. The Port City Pretzels you buy today at the Littleton Co-op are adaptations of Suzanne’s family’s recipes from over 30 years ago. Her mother-in-law, Eileen Foley, is actually the longest serving mayor in Portsmouth’s history, and the inspiration behind the recipe and business. She started her business to bring the feelings and taste of joy from her family’s recipes to the people. Today, that joy extends far beyond the product: the company is 100% woman-owned; they proudly represent the LGBTQ+ community; the majority of their employees are disabled (74% as of May 2025); and they consider themselves “radically inclusive.” While keeping the resilient spirit of NH within all of their work, Port City Pretzels are sold nationwide, and they were even named the Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year in 2020 by the Small Business Administration.

When you take a bite of Port City Pretzels, you can tell that Suzanne cares about her people *and* her product. We appreciate the hard work of her and her employees, and are so glad to have Port City Pretzels representing a woman-owned NH business at the Littleton Food Co-op.  

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: White Mountain Apiary

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Producer: White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm

Location: Whitefield, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Honey, bee pollen, beeswax cleaning products, and other bee by-products

Website: whitemountainapiary.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

“To bee or not to bee?” That was (sort of) the question lamenting Janice Mercieri and her husband Joe for years before they officially opened White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm in 2011 in Whitefield, NH. The duo quickly got to work and immersed themselves in bees and education; Janice even received a Master Beekeeping Certificate from Cornell University. Fast forward to today and Janice is perhaps the North Country of NH’s most called upon apiary expert. Janice and White Mountain Apiary wholesale bee products, retail bee equipment, grow queens and colonies for other NH and VT beekeepers, and offer classes and lectures on beekeeping, bee preservation, and more across the region. She acts as President of the North Country Beekeepers Association and sits on the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Beekeepers Association. She was awarded New Hampshire Beekeeper of the Year in 2021 and Coos County Business Leader of the Year in 2023 in recognition of her contributions to both communities.

The story of White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm is one that demonstrates the opportunities that can come from taking a risk and pursuing a dream. The Co-op is proud to support Janice and White Mountain Apiary’s pursuit by offering a retail outlet for their locally-made honey and other bee products.

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.









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