Founded by Neha Shah in 2022, Sasbani Gramya Haat makes jams, preserves, and coolers from native fruits grown in the Sasbani village near Mukteshwar in Uttarakhand. Their current range of products includes fruit preserves, pickles, Pahadi turmeric, seasonings, and herbal teas. Sasbani Gramya Haat retails their products through Instagram, at their eponymous store in the village, and at local cafes.
The inception of Sasbani Gramya Haat coincided with Neha’s move from Gurugram to her hometown of Haldwani in the Kumaon region. She noticed that large quantities of sun-ripened or over-ripened fruit—including apricots, Galgal lemons, Malta oranges, peaches, and plums—were discarded as they could not make it to the local market or mandi on time, largely owing to the remote location of the village which is about 75 kilometres away from the main mandi.
To avoid wastage, Neha decided to buy this fruit from farmers directly and turn them into value-added products like jams and preserves. Today, Sasbani Gramya Haat has grown from a garage-run operation into a warehouse space. Locals and tourists alike can visit to learn how the preserves are made as well as taste them. Neha and her team ensure that all products are handmade, and crafted in small batches. This allows them to continue sourcing from farmers in small quantities, and, in turn, ensure that no fruits are wasted.
The Locavore Bite
TL Bite offers a glimpse into how a partner producer runs their operations, and reflects their core principles and values. The idea is to provide insights into their practices and highlight their positive efforts descriptively. We have identified seven key areas of assessment – origin and source of ingredients, composition and integrity of the products, workforce policies, production practices, community-related initiatives, approach towards preserving or celebrating traditional knowledge and the materials used in packaging. While this assessment may not be entirely comprehensive, we hope it helps you make an informed decision about why you might want to support them, and the ways in which to do so.
The information below offers you a snapshot of where Sasbani Gramya Haat stands on these parameters. We have put this together based on several rounds of conversations with Neha. Click on a piece of the pie below to find out more.
Why We Love Sasbani Gramya Haat
Highlighting seasonality and local produce: All products are made from native produce grown in and around the Sasbani village. Sasbani Gramya Haat also ensures to highlight the produce’s seasonality across all their products. For instance, apricots, peaches, and plums are used to make jams only when the fruits are in season. They also avoid pulping and storing the fruits for extended periods of time, and instead, directly turn the pulp into the product to maintain freshness.
Close relationship with farmers: Before establishing Sasbani Gramya Haat, Neha spent six months learning about the land and the kind of produce that grows in the region from local farmers. Over the years, she has formed a trust-based relationship with the farmers by purchasing surplus produce from them even if they only have small quantities to sell. She also ensures that the farmers are paid on the same day.
Relying on local expertise: Apart from sourcing from local farmers, they also rely on local expertise for their operations—from production to packaging and marketing. For instance, Neha learned how to prepare apple jelly and lemon pickle from a local elderly woman in Sasbani. She trains and employs people from the village to create the products and has recently worked with a local graphic designer to redesign their labels.
What does it mean to rely on indigenous or native knowledge in a hilly region like Sasbani? Why is it important for Sasbani Gramya Haat to do so?
“Relying on indigenous or native knowledge in a hilly region like Sasbani means learning from and building upon the traditional wisdom, practices, and skills of local communities who have lived in harmony with this landscape for generations. This includes their understanding of local crops, weather patterns, soil, traditional architecture, natural resource management, and food preservation methods.
For Sasbani Gramya Haat, such knowledge ensures that development remains sustainable, rooted in local identity, and respectful of the region’s ecology. It helps preserve cultural heritage while promoting livelihoods that are environmentally sound and resilient to changing conditions. By valuing indigenous knowledge, Sasbani Gramya Haat strengthens community pride and supports more meaningful, locally driven progress.”
—Neha Shah, Founder
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If you would like to learn more about Sasbani Gramya Haat, or try their products, check out their Instagram. If you’re interested in supporting them in other ways, please contact us at connect@thelocavore.in.
This is a paid partnership with Sasbani Gramya Haat. At The Locavore, we strive to keep the practices of a producer transparent and honest across all forms of partnerships.
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