{"id":42071,"date":"2020-03-25T12:49:37","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T17:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/a4cb.org\/?post_type=stories&#038;p=42071"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:28:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:28:17","slug":"heray-spice","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/a4cb.org\/es\/client-stories\/heray-spice\/","title":{"rendered":"Heray Spice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLa subvenci\u00f3n Cook County Source Grant proporcion\u00f3 financiamiento fundamental que nos permiti\u00f3 invertir en nuestro inventario y mucho m\u00e1s.\u201d-<\/p>\n<cite>Mohammad Salehi<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing up in a farming family in Herat, Afghanistan, Mohammad Salehi developed a deep appreciation for agriculture while also witnessing firsthand the struggles farmers face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe uncertainty of weather patterns, the lack of access to modern farming techniques, and the volatile market conditions often made it difficult for farmers to make ends meet,\u201d said Mohammad. \u201cThese experiences sensitized me to the struggles that my family and other farmers across Afghanistan endure, inspiring me to find ways to support and empower them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After high school, Mohammad served as a local linguist and cultural advisor for the US Armed Forces in Afghanistan. His service allowed him to obtain a special visa and in 2014, Mohammad immigrated to Chicago, Illinois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2017, Mohammad founded Heray Spice, a spice company and farming cooperative specializing in premium saffron. His goal is to create economic opportunity and promote Afghanistan\u2019s rich agricultural heritage on a global scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are not just a spice company. We are a catalyst for positive change,\u201d said Mohammad. \u201cIn Chicago, we create job opportunities and support local artisans and suppliers. In Afghanistan, we empower farmers, particularly women, by providing fair wages, training, and access to international markets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2023, Mohammad participated in A4CB\u2019s Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab (NEL), a business accelerator program that provides participants with a $20,000 grant, coaching, and access to connections to support business growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNEL and A4CB\u2019s one-on-one coaching provided invaluable guidance and support as we navigated the challenges of scaling our business,\u201d said Mohammad. \u201cThe personalized mentorship helped us refine our business strategy, optimize operations, and identify growth opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through NEL, Mohammad created a new stream of income for Heray Spice and updated the business\u2019s website and packaging designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following his participation in NEL, Mohammad also received funds through the Cook County Small Business Source Grant Program, which A4CB administered with the Women\u2019s Business Development Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Cook County Source Grant provided critical funding that enabled us to invest in our inventory, allocate resources on our online marketing, and expand our product line,\u201d said Mohammad. \u201cThe NEL [funds] and Cook County Source Grant also helped us hire a consultant chef, recipe writer, and brand and design manager.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the staff Mohammad hired with grant funding, Heray Spice employs seven individuals across operations in Chicago and Afghanistan and 55 seasonal employees in Afghanistan during the saffron harvest season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking forward, Mohammad hopes to continue expanding Heray Spice\u2019s market presence and deepening the company\u2019s impact in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe plan to explore new distribution channels, collaborate with strategic partners, and continue investing in the professional development of our team,\u201d said Mohammad. \u201cUltimately, our goal is to position Heray Spice as a global leader in premium saffron and socially responsible business practices.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":20452,"template":"","services":[24],"industries":[36],"class_list":["post-42071","stories","type-stories","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","services-subvenciones","industries-alimentos-bebidas"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Heray Spice &#8226; 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