Welcome to Heray Spice
I am Mohammad N. Salehi, the proud owner of Heray Spice. My roots are deeply embedded in the soil of Herat, Afghanistan, where I spent the first 21 years of my life. Following high school, I took on a meaningful role as a Local Military Linguist for the US Army & US Marines at Camp Stone (or Camp Zafar for my fellow veterans who know the name) in Herat, Afghanistan. Serving as a local linguist and cultural advisor for the US Armed Forces in Afghanistan for four years was a defining chapter of my life.
In 2014, I embarked on a new journey, immigrating to Chicago, Illinois. While adjusting to life in a new land, I dedicated seven years to pursuing higher education, becoming the first in my family's generations to complete a college degree. I hold both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer and cyber forensics from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).
My upbringing in a farming family sensitized me to the struggles farmers face in Afghanistan merely to make ends meet. This realization fueled my passion to establish Heray Spice, a company (and cooperative in Afghanistan) committed to ensuring farmers receive fair compensation for their saffron and crops, enabling them to educate their children and build a brighter future.
Heray Spice operates as a Public Benefit Corporation, driven by the belief that everyone involved in farming should earn a sustainable and fair income. Our journey began in April 2017, and we officially launched our product in 2018. Starting with a modest 3 LB of saffron from my own family, we've grown to include 45 farmers and 36 independent farms in our cooperative. Last year alone, we imported and sold over 150 LB of saffron.
What sets us apart:
- Transparency: We know each farmer in our cooperative by name, maintaining regular communication to foster a sense of community.
- Timely Payments For Farmers: No credit delays, no late payments, and no deceptive practices. We believe in fair and prompt compensation.
- Fair Trade Principles: We don't bargain with farmers; we pay them above local market rates, adhering to fair trade principles.
- Quality Assurance: We uphold the highest standards of purity and quality. Each saffron batch comes with a Certificate of Origin, ISO 3532.2 Standard Lab Result with Category #1 results, and a third-party Certificate of Analysis.
- Social Responsibility: We contribute 5% of our net income to educational charities in Afghanistan. Additionally, we are eager to support non-profit organizations in the USA, offering financial assistance, products, services, or a combination based on the specific needs. Feel free to reach out at Mohammad@herayspice.com, sharing your cause, and we'll do our best to make a meaningful impact.
At Heray Spice, we believe in providing quality products and a quality way of life. By quality of life, we are talking about the lives of our farmers, our customers, and taking care of the mother nature.
Our Mission & Goals
- Helping Afghanistan farmers to cultivate saffron instead of poppy, and making a better living for themselves
- Making authentic Afghani saffron accessible to chefs and food lovers globally
- Employing Afghanistan women, and contributing to education projects by giving 5% of our net-income back to community
Our Name & location
We are a Chicago-based company, importing the best quality spices grown in Herat, Afghanistan, where our founder, Mohammad Salehi, was born. His hometown meant a great deal to him, which is why he named our company after it. ‘Heray’ or ‘Heraywa’ is the ancient name for Herat, formerly known as the “Crown of Khorasan”. He spent the majority of his life in Herat, where he grew up amongst farmers, so he was familiar with their way of life. Not only did this inspire him to create Heray Spice, but it was also what sparked him to uplift his community. We cultivate and import the following spices: Afghanistan Authentic Saffron, Afghanistan Wild Mountain Cumin, Herati Coriander Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Fennel Ground, Tamil Nadu Turmeric, Cloud Forest Cinnamon of Sri Lanka, Infused Saffron Oil, Afghanistan Green Tea, and more spices.
Our Cooperative in Herat, Afghanistan
Our Team
Mohammad Salehi is the Founder & CEO.
Anita Yousofi is our Cheif Blending Officer & Co-Owner
Shahram Mohammadi is the VP of supply chain
Nemat Salehi is our farmers cooperative coordinator
Meet Our Farmers!
What Are The Farmers Co-Op Updates?
2018- 3 farmers in our co-op
- 6 seasonal women employed
- Sales $27,652
- Farmers & Afghanistan Employees Benefited ($7,350)
2019
- 9 farmers in our co-op
- 12 seasonal women employed
- Sales $46,340
- Farmers & Afghanistan Employees Benefited ($11,578)
2020
- 20 farmers in our co-op
- 25 seasonal women employed
- Sales $45,571
- Farmers & Afghanistan Employees Benefited ($12,700)
2021
- 30 farmers in our co-op
- 25 seasonal women employed
- Sales $ 83,450
- Farmers & Afghanistan Employees Benefited ($23,780)
2022
- 35 farmers in our co-op
- 28 seasonal women employed
- Sales $98,670
- Farmers & Afghanistan Employees Benefited ($35,567)
