Owners Sarah Yancey and Chad Oliphant started Smiling Hara in 2009 in order to provide the greater Asheville community with a source of fresh, unpasteurized, organic, GMO-free Tempeh. They also specialize in a line of non-soy tempehs including black bean and adzuki bean. A company built on a philosophy of sustainability, Sarah and Chad believe in community, environmental stewardship and a health-conscious life style.  Smiling Hara offers unique varieties of Tempeh that cannot be found elsewhere, they support local agriculture by sourcing beans locally whenever possible and they even package their tempeh in an outer bag that is 100% biodegradable in the landfill!

Local Producer Loan funds were used to purchase production equipment and a delivery vehicle in order to expand their market. For more information, read the Whole Story Blog!