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Please join us in welcoming Hillside Harvest to the Ujima Good Business Alliance!
Hillside Harvest, a sauce and marinade company, strives to, “continue the tradition of introducing people to unique flavors and recipes;” founder Kamaal Jarrett brings Caribbean inspiration from his Jamaican upbringing and heritage, along with business acumen and small business partnerships (including with Nubian Markets), to bear on Boston’s local gastronomy and economy.
This spring, Hillside Harvest joined the UGBA. Ujima’s communications team recently got in touch with Jarrett to learn more about how his business prioritizes network-building, and how Hillside Harvest hopes to bring community to the table.
UJIMA: How would you describe Hillside Harvest to Ujima’s voting and solidarity members (and to our broader communities)?
KAMAAL JARRETT: Hillside Harvest exists to actualize awareness of Caribbean cuisine. We embrace the responsibility to educate the world about our unique ingredients, culinary artistry, and stunning flavors. We honor the high standards of Caribbean cuisine in all of our products. We warmly welcome global food adventurers to experience the culture of our community, and we are committed to using our platform to elevate perceptions of Caribbean cuisine to align with the reality in which we are so proudly rooted.
What drew your business to becoming a member of Ujima’s Good Business Alliance?
I saw joining the Ujima Good Business Alliance as a way to get deep[ly] connected to the community at a critical point in the growth of Hillside Harvest. We’re currently looking to grow our business, not just in revenue but also in headcount. It’s critical that I begin to put a sustainable and equitable foundation in place as my team continues to assemble. Being a part of the Alliance helps to ensure that I’m better educated and connected as I build that foundation.
Which UGBA standards are you most proud to highlight that are a part of your business practices?
As we grow, I have goals of extending ownership of Hillside Harvest to its future employees. Our brand is centered around celebrating representation. That becomes further reinforced if we can continue to hold ownership within our cultural community, even as we raise capital and seek outside funding.
Secondly, there is a great deal of opportunity for us to increase our vendor and supplier allocation within the community. I look forward to increasing our engagement with member service providers and exploring ways we can better engage in the community economy.
How do you bring Boston’s communities into your work? What specific aspects of our communities are you seeking to support, facilitate, or uplift?
I see there being tremendous opportunities to bring in the community through employment and services. We currently service Boston by centering most of our direct-to-consumer events in the metro area. This also gives us an opportunity, on a temp and seasonal basis, to hire local residents to assist with our services. As we grow, we hope to extend these opportunities to more permanent hiring opportunities. The beauty in starting with the Boston community is that those who start with us on a temporary basis, have a higher probability of being targeted when full-time opportunities become available.
How do you see Hillside Harvest benefiting from membership in the UGBA–and what are you seeking to contribute to the alliance itself, and its members?
In joining the UGBA, we hope to gain access to a diverse network of professionals, gain insights critical to the sustainability of our business, and attract strong candidates for future employment within our organization. I personally hope to provide my knowledge and experiences as a marketer and business owner as a resource for other emerging brands within and outside of CPG [consumer packaged goods] who are looking for perspective, guidance and/or real life examples to better prepare for their own journey.
How can Ujima members support your business?
Tell a friend to tell a friend. Purchase Hillside in stores or as gifts. Introduce us to folks in your network looking for work, looking to invest, or looking to learn more about Consumer Packaged Goods.
What’s next for Hillside Harvest?
We have big dreams, but cash is critical. The next stage for Hillside Harvest is to raise funding to support our path forward. We intend on being a national brand by the end of 2025. This is a very attainable goal, however there are a number of checkpoints along the way that we’ll need the help of the community to make it through. ✦
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