Bear Maple – A Partnership Success Story
*The following article is taken from an article written by Brian Bethke, Founder and CEO of the Bear Maple Farms company. This article was previously published by 1% for the Planet.
How it began
I count myself as one of the lucky ones as with my work I get to spend a lot of time out in nature up in the Catskills where I established my company Bear Maple Farms. But my work also draws me to the city. One day I was working away in my office space on the Upper West Side and I ran into Manuela Zamora from NY Sun Works who share the same space. Within minutes we were nerding out about hydroponics together.
Bear Maple Farms tonics use hydroponically grown Ginseng as a key ingredient.
Manuela told me about NY Sun Works’ amazing mission to engage K-12 students in STEM and sustainability education through hydroponics right in their classrooms. I was blown away as hydroponics is also absolutely essential to what we do at Bear Maple!
We are the only beverage company in the world to source hydroponically grown ginseng-which makes it the highest quality in the world! Normally ginseng takes REALLY long to grow. However, hydroponics allows us to simulate the passing of seasons in sped up time. That means trickier crops that used to take over a decade to come to maturity (like ginseng) can be grown in just months. Amazing!
NY Sun Works uses hydroponics in the same way; to achieve things that just would not be possible otherwise. Using hydroponics, they have ensured that over 140,000 students across the city can grow their own food in the absence of soil. In doing so, they learn not only where their food comes from but also their wider role in food systems and how these impact the environment. It was EXACTLY what our young people should be learning. By the end of our conversation I was all onboard!
Why I got involved with the NY Sun Works Youth Conference
I couldn’t think of a non-profit organization with more alignment with our vision at Bear Maple Farms. The Youth Conference was a chance to demonstrate to attendees that the advancements in agricultural technology that NY Sunworks is teaching to future generations is not just science fiction – it is actually being used by businesses like ours to have a positive impact. Farming doesn’t have to be something that tarnishes the environment. We can make better choices.
Brian attends the Controlled Environment Agriculture Career Fair and Networking Event at the NY Sun Works 13th Youth Conference
At Bear Maple we are about reconnecting consumers with the offerings of nature sitting right here in our native forests, and using that to nourish body and mind. In our case it’s the maple trees and ginseng plants that are the hero ingredients of our beverages. NY Sun Works are also all about nourishing a student’s body and mind, which comes from understanding how their own nutrition choices affect their health and wellbeing. It’s also about helping students see their wider role as Farmer Scientists and future stewards of the planet. They must be doing something right as over 350 schools now use their curriculum.
What were the benefits of getting involved?
Consumers are prioritizing their support for value-aligned brands more than ever before, especially younger generations. Attending the Youth Conference as a business was an easy decision for us as we got to spend the day with over 900 students who all share the values that drive our business..
Being 1% for the Planet certified also sent a strong signal to all the attendees that Bear Maple is a business that puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to commitment to people and the planet.
What did I take away from it?
I had some great talks with individuals who were curious about what we do and how we integrate hydroponics into our products. I found it really helpful for discerning how younger people approach their beverage choices and what factors are most likely to sway their decisions when it comes to what they drink.
I also loved hearing all the student presentations on their discoveries in hydroponics. I am a lifelong learner and so ALL of it appealed to me.
I had so many wonderful conversations with students, but the impression that made the deepest impact on me was the overwhelming sense of community. NY Sunworks has a talent for bringing together everyone from elite experts in vertical farming and hydroponics to middle schoolers who are beaming with excitement about doing something truly positive for our community and the planet.
How did people at the conference react to Bear Maple?
Everyone who came to chat with us at our booth was super friendly and engaged. They had great questions about the science behind ginseng and all its health benefits. Some of them were even interested in having a go at growing ginseng themselves. I would love to see more people in the US get on board with that. I think the most important thing for me was that we were all on the same page about HOW businesses should behave towards both their customers and the environment and the importance of channeling profits back into the community.