#45 From Farm, to Noodle, to You - Lola Milholland, Umi Organic

A Portland, Oregon native, Lola Milholland's Umi Organic fresh ramen noodle dishes started with a workshop. She took a week long noodle making tour with other ramen noodle companies and was hooked on the idea of providing the best noodle making kits people could make fresh in their own homes. Most people don't realize what a creative space ramen noodle making can be. There's a limitless amount of ingredients that can be added, and taking the organic angle is very new. Raised in the culture of grocery stores, Lola's parents were involved in the food business and she spent much of her after-school time stocking the refrigerated goods and salad sections of a store; so she knows the business from the backroom. Lola studied the Japanese language in school and bent toward the culture and food. She blended that with the farm-to-school movement early on when moving back to Portland. It was program that connected the farm meals with the local food producers and Lola took that early experience and mission into forming her company. And her team is impressive, including experience in Wall Street banking and startups, and growing the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative.

"Masoni and Marshall the meaningful Marketplace" with your hosts Sarah Masoni and Sarah Marshall

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Producer: Sarah Marshall of The Joy of Creation Production House
Audio engineer, mixer, and podcast editor: Haley Bowers
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Production Coordinators: Dave Drusky