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our story
Plant-based meal prep services and a fully vegan breakfast/brunch concept
​Juniper Seed was started with the drive and passion to feed and nourish our community. While in the beginning stages of starting her meal prep business, our founder, Alecia was searching for something to name it, and the word "juniper" came to mind. After completing a word study, she learned that juniper plants are resilient and thrive in various environments. Their roots are driven deep into the ground, allowing them to withstand and survive some of the harshest climates. The oldest, living juniper tree (located in California) is estimated to be 3,000- 6,00 years old! Many of the plant's characteristics deeply resonated with her and she began to recognize many of them showing up within herself.
When researching further, Alecia found the biblical significance of the juniper tree. The prophet Elijah was trying to flee from Queen Jezebel to save his own life. He found refuge under a juniper tree but was tired and hungry; ready to quit and give up on his journey to freedom. An angel came to him and commanded him to "get up and eat". Next to his head, he found food and water that he ate and drank. It was this food and water that nourished his body and gave him the strength to endure the remainder of his journey (1 Kings 19: 4-8).
Here at Juniper Seed we provide accessible, affordable, and sustainable plant-based meals to nourish you and give you the strength and resilience to endure whatever journey is upon you.​
To learn more about how we are feeding our community through our "just eat" initiative, subscribe to our mailing list or email us: info@juniperseed.net.
meet our founder
What started as a way to positively impact the environment, has now become a permanent lifestyle
Hi, I am Alecia Petroze, the founder of Juniper Seed. My journey to plant-based eating began in 2019, as a means to lessen my carbon footprint. What started as a way to impact the environment positively, has now become a permanent lifestyle.
I graduated with a degree in education and while I don't have a culinary degree, I bring 20 years of industry experience and a fiery passion for cooking. I am deeply driven by serving my community and using food to create an experience that will leave you feeling nourished and well-fed: mind, body, and spirit.
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In the early months of 2022, I was prompted by a family member to meal prep for her, as she had just moved back to the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky area and realized how few vegan options the region had to offer. After a few weeks, I started to gain traction by offering a plant-based meal prep service to the public and realized the positive impact I could have on the community. As a result, Juniper Seed was officially born!
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In May 2023, I joined Findlay Kitchen- an incubator kitchen for entrepreneurs looking to expand their food business. Being a kitchen member provided access to commercial-grade kitchen equipment, a wonderful support staff, and multiple opportunities for "pop-ups" at Findlay Market- Ohio's oldest, continuously operated public market.
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In January 2024, I was enrolled in "Findlay Learn"- a program dedicated to food business education for entrepreneurs. After completing the 9-week cohort, I applied for "Findlay Launch"- a residency-based accelerator program that gives independent food entrepreneurs real-world experience testing their concept in fully built and equipped storefronts in a thriving food district. Spring 2024 brought a new season of growth and confirmation of being the next Launch resident!
Plant-based meal prep services will continue as part of our growing business, however, a fully vegan breakfast and brunch concept is what you will find at our storefront, located at 1809 Elm Street.
