Where the change makers live: Meet Judy Chien Cari
Meet Judy Chien Cari, founder of Allwell Greens.
Allwell is reimagining Asian Greens for the next generation. Their mission is to address the underserved Asian market, revolutionizing the produce aisles making Asian greens accessible to all. But with a mission like that, all generations can appreciate, respect, and have access to a diverse selection of heritage Asian greens grown in New York.
The first time I met her, we spent an hour talking about all the great restaurants in New York, navigating the industry as a woman, parenting failures (she laughed while I cringed), and a few things she’s learned on the way.
Judy is going to make you fall in love with New York and she’s going to make you rethink your knowledge, awareness, and exposure to Asian greens almost immediately after meeting her. Needless to say, she’s an expert and she knows what she’s taking about.
You can find their sustainably grown greens here.
Q&A
Tell us your background. Where were you born?
Where were you raised? - Born and raised in NYC. Your typical latch key kid left to her own devices.
What do you love most about NY?
I love the diversity of people, cultures and most importantly, the eats. You can find almost every and any type of food in NYC.
How has your childhood shaped who you are?
Being left to my own devices allowed me to become self sufficient and independent at an early age.
What do you wish people knew or understood about Asian greens?
Asian Greens is more than Bok Choy. And it’s more than “Asians” who eat these greens. There are so many vegetables that are consumed cross culturally and I would like to bring these heritage greens to the mass markets and expand our choices for vegetables at the grocery store.
Favorite thing to grow?
I don’t know if I have a favorite thing to grow. I may have a new love interest (I mean plants!) but that usually fades pretty quickly, like getting bored with a crush and it’s time to move on.
What do you wish people knew about your industry?
We’re farmers. Modern farmers. Being in an indoor vertical farm is a method of farming. No amount of tech is going to change what you grow. Just how.
What do you love most about this industry? What would you like to change?
I love the innovation and the diversity of people in the industry. We’re meeting a lot of great people. I would like to change the industry so that it’s not so focused on hype and $$$. Have you seen the tickets to Ag-con? It’s outrageous.
What is the biggest misconception about being an entrepreneur?
It’s not easy. All those stories you hear on a podcast/TV/etc… those are the great [success stories, they are not the norm].
Any advice for other entrepreneurs in ag-tech?
The biggest misconception is that you’ll be successful if you have a “technology” in your farm.
Biggest success to date?
Seeing our concept come alive with the buildout of our first commercial farm and retailers finding us to be their supplier! (And having young teens love your product!)
A failure that you can now laugh about?
Oh, when we first tried growing at home! We were experimenting with a home hydroponic unit that was enclosed, with lighting and water and an app to operate it from your phone….. absolute failure! The app didn’t work. The test grow was horrid, scraggly weedy looking things. I’ve had more success sticking some random seeds into soil and leaving it on my window sill.
If you had to eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Hotpot! There’s a huge flavor profile in Hotpot.
What is your first food memory?
Our family dinners growing up were always made up of 4 to 5 dishes, there’s always 2 different types of vegetables, a fish dish, a meat dish of some sort and sometimes a soup.
What’s your favorite thing to make at home?
Anything in the dessert & baked goods category.
Five essential restaurants in NY?
Fulton Fish Co. in the Tin Building, South St. Seaport
What’s something you would tell your younger self (words of wisdom, if you will)?
Never say never… If you asked friends of mine from my teens and 20’s, they would tell you the last thing on earth that I wanted to do was own my own business and be an entrepreneur!
What does 2023 look like for you?
Work work work and maybe squeeze in some traveling!
What does 2023 look like for Allwell Greens?
Excited to grow the business in terms of sales and distribution, but also to begin building our presence and brand through social media and cross promotions. Looking forward to the roller coaster of ramping up our productions, sales and brand.
Image courtesy of AllWell Greens and Vertical Farm Daily.