A loan helped enable increased incomes for spice farmers in 23 countries.


Burlap & Barrel's story

Spices in grocery stores come from a long, complex supply chain where farmers earn pennies on the dollar and their incomes fluctuate based on factors outside their control. The majority of revenue is made by intermediaries that are not involved in the growing and harvesting of the spices themselves. The result is flavourless spices with no connection to origin.
Burlap & Barrel is a Public Benefit Corporation building new international food supply chains that are equitable, transparent and traceable. Burlap & Barrel are working towards ending inequality and exploitation in food systems that disenfranchise skilled farmers by: (1) Connecting smallholder farmers to high-value markets and paying a premium above market prices. (2) Educating consumers about the impact of product traceability on human rights. (3) Sourcing unique foods with terroir that are grown biodynamically and organically using traditional techniques.
Burlap & Barrel source spices from social enterprise farmer groups in 23 countries, pre-paying them during the harvest and building long-term relationships that allow these groups to expand their businesses and support their communities.

Kiva’s loan will enable Burlap & Barrel to buy more spices from farmer groups and promote organic, regenerative agriculture methods.. This is Burlap & Barrel’s first loan through the Kiva Social Enterprise program.


This loan is special because:

It enables spice farmers to sell their produce at fair prices.



Loan details


Lenders and lending teams




Loan details