Naturally Seattle Executive Director India Nagy, left, is working to promote natural food brands. Naturally Seattle Board Chair Diana Fryc is at right. | Photo courtesy of India Nagy.
India Nagy is no stranger to the natural foods industry.
She recalls her parents becoming interested in the whole foods movement back in the 1970s, before it was even a concept. As a branding expert and graphic designer, she has worked with several local food brands over the past two-plus decades.
Nagy is now executive director at Naturally Seattle, an affiliate of the Naturally Network, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit that seeks to boost the next generation of leaders in the conscious consumer goods industry. Naturally Seattle is one of 11 regional chapters across the United States.
Naturally Seattle hosts several events for its members, everything from educational workshops and expert-led discussions to casual meetups. Its signature event is its annual regional pitch competition (recently won by Bluebird Grain Farms, a Winthrop-based company that manufactures 100%-certified organic ancient whole grains, fresh milled flour and handcrafted blends for both the wholesale and consumer markets).
Bluebird Grain Farms received $5,000 and advances to Naturally Network’s national pitch competition against other regional winners at tradeshow Newtopia Now from Aug. 18-20 in Denver.
Here are five questions with India Nagy.
The natural foods movement is having a moment right now. Is there still more momentum this space can have? Everybody is now drawn in and that has changed things quite a bit. You see the big companies, the big retailers. It is getting more challenging for smaller brands who really try to create a quality product to set themselves apart.
How does Naturally Seattle fit into this? People here care deeply about what they eat, where it comes from and the values held by the companies they support. That makes the Pacific Northwest an ideal place for companies to prosper.
How does Washington state stand out? We have a diverse range of suppliers and food that we grow here. We just have that consciousness already of what doing better for the planet is. That's just part of the Northwest spirit. Business can be about more than just profit. It can be focused on passion and can have a purpose.
Are these smaller entrepreneurs going to be the innovators as time goes on? That's what we are here to support. That’s our reason for being. The brands that we are working with have vision and clarity. Because they are smaller, they are able to adapt faster.
Final thoughts? We are welcoming. We have open doors. We’re looking for people who are excited.