Today on the blog we feature the farm based entrepreneur, Sreehari Shete; Founder of Milagro. From his farms in Ooty, Shreehari has developed a fine line of organic dried herbs and mixes. Let’s find out more about his venture. Read on…
A bit about yourself.
The seed for my interest and passion for organic farming and organic foods was sown at school, for which I am ever grateful. This is not about some soil, seed and water, its about you and me! We are not separate entities and the earlier we realize this the better it will be.Economics and Environmental Science are subjects that I thoroughly enjoyed studying together in school. This lead me to study environmental science for my undergrad. What was taught didn’t sit very well with me and I decided to complete what I’m doing and study something that’s ruling the world today, Economics. In todays world we give a lot of importance to economics. It’s for sure very critical but it’s not the only measure of development or success for an individual or a nation. It is the small things that matter, and its ‘you and me’ who make the difference. This thought, lead us to start Milagro, a brand that has a vision to create a community of conscious consumers.
How did you begin MILAGRO and how has it evolved?
We have been growing Italian herbs and spices for a while on our farm in Ooty. The idea of selling them as a retail product came up overnight. This was when MILAGRO was born. We decided to test our product at a farmers market to see how people respond to it. The response was positive and encouraging! The product, packaging and the brand was then devoloped with great care and attention to detail. Milagro is growing and evolving as a brand with a vision to provide consciously grown herbs and seasonings to consumers. With the introduction of new products and a new range of seasonings we wish to add some flavor to your kitchen! We are retailing at a few stores in Chennai and wish to grow in the near future.
What is your personal favorite pick from your MILAGRO right now? And why?
This year, we are introducing the famous Basil. The flavour and fragrance of this herb has become everyone’s favourite today. We have taken great care in growing and retailing this product. Our team has also developed a mixed herbs using our range of herbs which will add a very unique and delectable flavour to the dish of your choice. Milagro will also be introducing Chilli flakes to add some spice to our product range. Our Rosemary, Oregano and Thyme are tested winners and will be available at the market. We are excited to launch a range of scrubs that will enhance your beauty regimen. There are some surprises that I will leave for the lucky ones who make it to our stall!
What are you displaying at the By Hand, From The Heart.
This year we will have a range of six herbs, Rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, chilli flakes and mixed herbs. We will also be introducing some seasonings that could even be tasted at our stall. Our rosemary scrub is being accompanied with range of three more scrubs. We will also be launching our Diwali hamper for 2017!
What is a typical working day, like.
There are a variety of activities we need to take care of. From the farm to the shelf, we pay attention to every detail to make sure the end product is more than satisfactory. Our team at the farm maintains and follows various organic methods to maintain the quality of our herbs while taking complete care of the soil that nurtures it. With the development of new products, we are busy with developing the packaging and branding for them. With a committed and passionate team our working days are busy, eventful and chaotic yet productive.
About your work premises.
The farm, our warehouse and our office! Our work is spread out. Its lovely to see, how the product transforms itself from the farm to the shelf. We work out of a small and simple space where our products are processed and packaged. Its critical for us to maintain strict process and quality control measures to make sure the product we deliver is of the best quality.
Any product /recipe story you would like to share.
Here’s a tried and tested recipe:
Rosemary-roasted Almonds
Preparation time Less than 30 mins
Cooking time10 to 15 mins
Ingredients
200g Blanched almonds
2 tbsp Olive oil
2 tsp Sea salt
2 tbsp Finely chopped rosemary
½ tsp Smoked paprika
Process
- Add the almonds to a wide-based pan, heat over a very high heat and fry for a minute.
2. Add the oil, salt and rosemary then fry until crisp. - Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the paprika, toss together and serve.
Note: If preferred, roast in an oven preheated to 220C/425F/Gas 7 (200C fan).
By Hand From The Heart: MAKERS MARKET – 21st Edition
Date: Friday – Saturday, 8th – 9th September, 2017
Time: 10:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m
Venue: Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park
Address: 132, T.T.K Road, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600018, Tamil Nadu. India
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