Hello! My name is Alex Dupler, I'm one of the founding members of WestWood Organics. Between diabetes, obesity, and a whole slew of other diseases, Americans have experienced deteriorating health and are falling behind the citizens of many other countries. While we recognize there are a myriad of causes behind this unfortunate phenomenon, the primary factor is diet. Americans as a whole are consuming artificial ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that negatively affect every aspect of health, but it's not their fault! The companies that make these ingredients want to keep people in the dark about them, and on top of that, there just aren't a lot of organic options for people looking to test it out or make a lifestyle change.

Now that you have some background of the problem we are trying to tackle, let me tell you our story:

During the summer of 2017, my good friend and our founder, Luke West (West), began making sodas for his own personal health. The sodas are unique in the sense that they are created via fermentation, the same process kombuchas go through. Kombuchas are a popular health-food item that can be found at large supermarkets like Kroger, but they haven't infiltrated past health enthusiasts into the homes of mainstream America due to their off-putting, vinegar-laden flavor. The fermentation process works by supporting a healthy bacteria culture within a fruit-based (i.e. raspberry) or root-based (i.e. ginger) organic tea. As the process plays out, the healthy bacteria packs the sodas with beneficial acids and probiotics that aid gut function and give you energy. After Luke started making the sodas for himself, he showed our friend Andrew Garwood (Wood) how to make them and over time, they perfected the recipe to the point where the sodas maintained a fantastic, fruity flavor all while providing the same health benefits of a kombucha. At that point, they realized the sodas filled a market need and could also serve a higher purpose to change people's health one small step at a time and named their passion WestWood Organics. Looking to expand, Luke reached out to his younger brother Chris, myself, and our friends Bret Sagasser and Riley VanderKaay. All of us graduated from the same high school except Chris, who is in the 11th grade. Riley and I are students at Ohio State University, Bret is a student at the University of Cincinnati, and Luke and Andrew have taken time off to put sweat equity into WestWood Organics.

We are currently located in less than 5 independent grocery stores in Ohio. Before we expand to bigger independent grocery stores and, eventually, larger chains, there is a lot of legal red-tape we have to cut through. We have already jumped through many legal hoops between becoming an LLC, joining the GS1 barcode association, insuring our sodas, and securing a certified kitchen to produce them in, but there are still a few things we need to do. First of all, in order to stand our ground we must become certified USDA Organic. Beyond that, we have to have a laboratory test our drinks to confirm shelf life and determine nutrition facts such as calories and macronutrients. We have combined our own money along with the revenue generated by supplying a few small grocers to help pay for these expenses, but we need your help to make it a reality! If you are willing to contribute in any way, for any reason, anything helps! Thank you!