Maria Dawson: A Legacy of Excellence
Maria Dawson stepped into her role as Sales & Marketing Manager at Clearspring in 2012, but her journey with the company began far earlier. As the daughter of founder Christopher Dawson, she has been deeply rooted in the Clearspring legacy, growing up with its products and representing the family business at tastings and supplier visits in Japan. Her rich background makes her a knowledgeable voice on all things Clearspring.
Over the years, Clearspring has seen astonishing growth, transforming from a modest lineup of Japanese organic products to an impressive catalog that now boasts over 300 items. This expansion is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to promoting organic agriculture and traditional craftsmanship. Fueled by the belief in converting more land to organic farming, Clearspring has broadened its offerings to include award-winning Italian Organic Cold Pressed Oils, authentic Thai Noodles, and premium Coconut products sourced from Sri Lanka, all while preserving exceptional quality and flavor at the forefront.
Commitment to Quality and Tradition
The distinct tastes of Clearspring’s Japanese offerings stem from the artisanal skills of their producers, who employ age-old techniques and the finest organic ingredients. Take their meticulously aged Miso, for instance; it develops its unique flavor through careful fermentation, while the celebrated Organic Yaemon Tamari is known for its depth of flavor, achieved through an extended fermentation process. Although these traditional methods take time, the outstanding taste tells a compelling story.
A fundamental principle at Clearspring is its dedication to minimal processing to preserve both flavor and nutritional values—an ethos the company has championed since its inception. As more consumers become conscious of the pitfalls associated with ultra-processed foods, this commitment is proving increasingly crucial.
Innovation and Sustainability
Innovation is another vital aspect of Clearspring’s identity, as showcased by their latest product launches. The company recently introduced its first line of sweet grab-and-go snacks: a trio of organic oat biscuits inspired by Japanese flavors. Crafted from premium organic ingredients, these biscuits not only taste great but also promote health—being refined sugar-free and high in fiber. Skilled bakers from the Scottish Highlands make these biscuits in small batches to ensure consistent quality and delightful texture.
Sustainability plays a critical role in Clearspring’s operations. The company is actively working to minimize its environmental impact through various packaging initiatives. For example, their entire line of Organic Japanese Tea Bags is now completely plastic-free and compostable, while their Atlantic Sea Vegetables are packaged waste-free. A significant change involved removing plastic trays from the popular Organic Seaveg Crispies, which has eliminated the use of nearly five million single-use trays each year. Furthermore, the outer packaging for the Seaveg Crispies Multipack has transitioned to recyclable materials, reinforcing Clearspring’s commitment to sustainable practices.
Navigating market trends while remaining true to its foundational values has sparked ongoing discussions at Clearspring. Maria observed that the market is gradually embracing the organic, plant-based, and minimally processed philosophy that Clearspring has advocated for over three decades, yet the company’s core principles remain firm.
Source: Bioecoactual