Seasoned from the Start: Spice Sourcing, Tariffs, and Trust-Based Farming at Burlap & Barrel
About this episode
Ori Zohar discusses how Burlap & Barrel is transforming the spice industry through direct sourcing and trust-based relationships with farmers.
Most people don't think twice about the spice jar on their shelf. But behind it is a supply chain that can pass through 20 different hands — and that's exactly where quality, safety, and accountability break down. In this episode, Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl speak with Ori Zohar , co-founder and co-CEO of Burlap & Barrel , about how they're reshaping the spice industry by sourcing directly from smallholder farmers across 22 countries. Ori shares how Burlap & Barrel built a transparent, trust-based supply chain — no formal contracts, just long-term relationships — and how that model has helped them navigate real-world pressures like the pandemic, tariffs, and rapid scaling. He also gets into the operational side: how GS1 Standards and barcoding became foundational tools for managing a 100+ SKU business across warehouses, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels. This is a story about innovation, transparency, and the power of human relationships in building a sustainable supply chain. In this episode, you'll learn: Why trust-based relationships with farmers outperform formal contracts How they responded to tariffs — without raising prices or passing costs to farmers The practical…
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