Green Business
Dr Neera Sharma is a Doctorate in Agricultural Economics and a retired Joint Director from the Department of Planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh. At the age of 62, she founded Navrasa Foods, transforming lifelong passion and traditional knowledge into a purpose-driven venture. Through a women-led kitchen, Navrasa Foods creates preservative-free pickles, chutneys, papad, chips, and traditional snacks using time-honoured recipes. The brand promotes women’s empowerment through employment and skill development while embracing sustainability with eco-friendly packaging made from recycled fabrics. Navrasa Foods reflects her belief that meaningful impact can begin at any stage of life...
Q: How did you think about starting this venture, and the challenges you faced in its establishment?
Navrasa Foods was inspired by my childhood memories of homemade pickles made by my mother and grandmother. After my mother passed away, I realised how much I missed those authentic flavours, as market products lacked the traditional touch. After retirement, I turned my passion into purpose by starting pickle-making at home and involving women who had long supported my family, aiming to empower them financially. What began as sharing with friends and relatives quickly grew into a recognised local brand within a year. In the beginning, managing everything single-handedly was a major challenge, from production to sourcing and sales. Training staff from scratch was also difficult, as it required time and patience to develop their skills and maintain consistency in quality and hygiene. As demand grew, ensuring the same traditional taste while scaling up production became challenging. To address this, I gradually turned the venture into a skill training centre, helping build a capable team and ensuring sustainable growth.
Q: How do you ensure the raw ingredients for your pickles and snacks are 100% organic and locally sourced?
I personally source most of our ingredients from trusted local producers and vendors. I believe in maintaining a direct connection with suppliers so that quality is never compromised. Our philosophy is simple—fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients create the best food. Supporting local farmers also ensures authenticity and strengthens the community economy
Q: Why did you choose to eliminate chemical preservatives, and how does this traditional approach benefit consumer health?
We aim to provide genuinely healthy food. Many commercial products rely on chemical preservatives to extend shelf life. Instead, we follow traditional sun-curing methods. Pickles and kanji are naturally matured under sunlight, which removes moisture while preserving nutrients Sun curing encourages natural fermentation, producing beneficial probiotics that support digestion and gut health. The gentle heat also allows spices to release their oils slowly, creating deeper flavours. This traditional method not only improves taste but also makes the food nourishing and closer to nature
Q: What specific "zero-waste" practices do you follow in your kitchen, such as sun-drying or utilising peels?
Sustainability is central to Navrasa Foods. Vegetable waste is used for animal feeding, and peels are converted into compost. Water used for washing vegetables is reused for plants. To prevent food wastage, we prepare snacks mainly on pre-orders. We avoid plastic packaging and use reusable glass jars and eco-friendly craft paper pouches. Some of our team members stitch cloth bags from discarded fabric, giving waste materials a second life.
Q: How does your women-led model support the local economy in Lucknow while promoting sustainable food habits?
Our model focuses on empowering local women. We train and employ women from nearby communities and source inputs locally. Some women who cannot travel for work contribute by stitching bags from home. This creates income opportunities while preserving dignity and independence. Through plant-based, vegetarian, and traditional foods, we also encourage healthier eating habits rooted in local culture.
Q: What is your next big step toward making your packaging or delivery process more eco-friendly?
Sustainability is an ongoing journey. Our next goal is to introduce an electric rickshaw for deliveries, driven by women from our team. We are also planning a jar-return reward system where customers can return empty glass bottles for reuse. Small steps like these help us move toward a greener and more responsible future.
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