Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

Fig Food Co.

By Marc Hamel and Ha Lam, October 8, 2011  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Marc Hamel and Ha Lam
We love our producers, suppliers and vendors and we think most of them have some pretty interesting stories behind their products too. We’ll be sharing some of our favorites here in an ongoing series. Read on for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Fig Food makes delicious soup. If you’ve tasted it, you may already know this — but did you know that in every batch of organic, kosher soup, someone has thought about how to pack in the most organic plants possible? “The choices we made around being kosher, being organic, using a new package; it all comes from my own personal passion and wanting to leave a legacy of making the world a better place,” says Joel Henry, founder and owner of Fig Food. Every choice that Henry has made can be traced to this philosophy, from the seasoning of their soup, the decision to go organic to naming the soups after the areas from which they draw flavor inspiration. (Tuscan White Bean, Yucatan Black Bean and Umbrian Lentil are a few examples.) “Part of making the world a better place is about reconnection; connecting to the farmer, connecting to other people,” says Henry. “I thought if we named the soups with cool names, people would explore the regions to see what they stood for.” When Henry made the decision to go organic, he asked himself, “ ‘Is it more important to get more people access to plant-based foods and be conventional, or be organic?’ To me, organic growing practices are all about a better environment, and so if I have healthier people in an environment that’s declining, that didn’t sit well.” And so it was. Their lightly salted soups are organic, plant-based and tasty. Have you ever considered all of the thought that goes into the soup you’re eating? Let us know about your thoughts on Henry’s soup philosophy. Watch the slideshow above and leave a comment with your answer by October 25th. One comment will be chosen at random to win a $50 gift card to our stores.

 

495 Comments

Comments

Venus Kalami says ...
I really appreciate Fig Foods' whole and healthy approach to their soups. What more could you want from a soup? :)
10/12/2011 11:15:40 PM CDT
heather says ...
i 100% agree. what you get in your cooking is only as good as what you put into it. and although that's great for our tastebuds...it's the most important for our bodies!
10/12/2011 11:29:13 PM CDT
Jeanne says ...
Great philosophy! Loving, fresh, organic, thoughtful. This is why we choose to shop Whole Foods!
10/12/2011 11:30:10 PM CDT
Vania Drewelow says ...
The company philosophy is inspiring, adding to that the soup is tasty , healthy and organic. Thank you for offering this great soup to us.
10/12/2011 11:34:08 PM CDT
Greg says ...
Innovative. Haven't thought about it before.
10/12/2011 11:36:15 PM CDT
Melissa says ...
Good for them! Considering all that goes into it, it has to fab!
10/13/2011 12:06:06 AM CDT
Michael Patton says ...
As a AIDS and Cancer survior local oranic foods offer the most healty nutrinal choices, and I consider part of thearpy.
10/13/2011 12:13:26 AM CDT
Joan says ...
I really enjoy soups especially in the fall and winter. I appreciate Henry's approach to make soup with all the ingredients that look good and are local (organic). I will definitely try Fig Food Co. soups.
10/13/2011 12:14:56 AM CDT
Ken says ...
Its cool to make the world a better place and make people healthy at the same time.
10/13/2011 12:23:52 AM CDT
Jeanette says ...
I like that soups are made just like if you made them at home.
10/13/2011 12:36:24 AM CDT
Ruth Smither says ...
I've never tasted Fig Co soups but from what I've seen I know I would like them. I am always looking for low sodium and organic products. Would love to win this so I can explore your foods. Do you make any products with figs in them? I recently tasted a fresh fig from Whole Foods and loved it!
10/13/2011 12:54:08 AM CDT
Rachel S. says ...
Low sodium soups full of robust flavors!! I love Fig Food soups. My favorite is Tuscan White Bean soup!
10/13/2011 1:08:09 AM CDT
Julia says ...
It's nice to eat soup that tastes like what you see (veggie chunks) as opposed to what you don't (salt).
10/13/2011 1:14:28 AM CDT
Barry says ...
I'm very happy to learn about these soups; sounds exactly like what I've been looking for: organic, vegan, plenty of protein and vitamin A, BPA-free packaging, and no saturated or trans fat. Glad to hear that they taste good as well!
10/13/2011 1:18:01 AM CDT
Malia Yoshioka says ...
I love the idea of naming the soups for the regions that inspired them!
10/13/2011 1:27:29 AM CDT
Blanca Venegas says ...
Your condensed split pea soup is my favorite! So delicious and healthy:) and thats coming from a chef!
10/13/2011 1:47:25 AM CDT
Peg Whitten says ...
cAN'T WAIT TO TRY THEIR SOUPS.
10/13/2011 2:05:46 AM CDT
lorraine mabbett says ...
Thannks - I will seek out this soup next time I'm in the store.
10/13/2011 2:22:30 AM CDT
Kay Anderson says ...
What a wonderful philosophy - " to make the world a better place." If we all felt that way, the world would be a better place.
10/13/2011 2:48:08 AM CDT
Susan Piaggio says ...
When I think of comfort food, soup is at the top of my list now that I've taken on the challenge of healthy eating. Salt is my favorite thing and having only a minimum amount of it in these products got my attention as salt/sodium is the main reason I don't buy prepared soups. The product looks great and knowing the story behind it makes it all the more attractive.
10/13/2011 3:04:36 AM CDT
Michelle Hussey says ...
As someone who makes her own soup in the winter, I do think a lot about what goes into my soups, but also when I am enjoying someone else's soup as well. When someone has put that much love into their soup, you can taste it. It has the right amount of flavoring and I always find myself trying to guess what exactly have they put in it for spices. And what better way to get more organic ingredients into people's diets than soup? I agree with Joel Henry's philosophy. That is some serious love he puts into the creation of his soups. I have not tried Fig Food Co. soups as of yet, however I plan on heading out this weekend to get some as I love a good bowl of soup for these sort of cool Fall days we are having where I live.
10/13/2011 3:22:39 AM CDT
Monique Marissa Lukens says ...
I and my fiancee are vegan, 75% raw vegan. Even though I know that the digestive enzymes and nutrients remain in plant-based foods not cooked over 118 degrees Fahrenheit, there's nothing like a good cup of soup on a chilly day to make you feel nourished and cozy. I am startled that I have now found a co. that is not only totally plant-based, but also organic. Eating organic is so important for the body. All the chemicals placed on our foods are slowly, and in some cases "quickly" causing cancer. People will soon have a one in two chance of being diagnosed with cancer, and much of this is due to the food eaten. Joel Henry's soups take that stat into account and only select plant-based foods, which are natural, and toxin free. I am impressed and blessed to know there is such a line of soup on the market as "Fig Food Co." Thank you, Joel Henry and family. You have touched many people's lives, saved their health, saved the environment, and I wish you to expand your product line even further...perhaps some raw soups (: Thank you!
10/13/2011 3:39:50 AM CDT
Richard Bollinger says ...
As a professional cook, I am impressed by Henry's philosophy and am eager to try his soups.
10/13/2011 3:49:12 AM CDT
Jill Connolly says ...
Powerful punch of veggies—sounds flavorful and healthy. Maybe there's even a fig in the soup from time to time?
10/13/2011 4:14:10 AM CDT
Sunday Rhodes says ...
What can I say. I love figs!! The nutritional value alone is worth exploring all the delicious things you can make with figs. They can be cooked or eaten raw, used in recipies to enhance nutrition and give them a new twist. It wasnt until I was older that I realized why my mom always had figs as a staple in the house. She knew the healthy benefits figs have for children. I went on to give them to my own children and now my grandchildren enjoy them as well. Try them, your like them!
10/13/2011 4:30:01 AM CDT

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