Yolele is proud to sell fonio, a gluten-free African super grain, to a North American audience. The company works with small farms in West Africa to bring this nutritious, ecologically sound product to your kitchen.

The History of Yolele

Yolele was founded by Pierre Thiam and Philip Teverow to help support farmers in West Africa and introduce fonio to a wider market. Fonio has been an important part of the diet of many African communities for thousands of years; it’s even been found buried in Egyptian pyramids. Fonio is known for its easy digestibility and high counts of essential amino acids like methionine and cystine.

Thiam, an award-winning chef and cookbook author, was inspired to launch Yolele by his own childhood in Senegal, where fonio is incorporated into a variety of dishes.

Yolele Company Mission

Yolele was created with the goal of fighting poverty in rural West Africa by supporting its farmers. Fonio cultivation represents a step forward for agriculture in the region. It’s a crop that grows with little water and other resources, making it a strong solution for a region hit hard by the effects of climate change.

The company structured its business model to have a positive impact on the West African communities that grow their fonio. To ensure this, it has a partnership with SOS Sahel, an African NGO that has been operating in the region since the 1970s. SOS Sahel holds Yolele accountable by checking for growth in per capita income and employment in fonio growing areas. As a part of the partnership, Yolele also donates 1% of all sales to SOS Sahel’s community funds.

Benefits of Yolele

There’s a reason people have been enjoying fonio for thousands of years. Discover the health, economic, and environmental of this powerful grain, including:

Essential nutrients in grain that has a fluffy texture and nutty flavor
Easy to digest and completely gluten-free
Grows with little water, making it a perfect cash crop for farmers hit by drought

The Top Yolele Product

Yolele works with its partners to bring the best quality of fonio in Africa to your dinner table, including this product available on Thrive Market:

Fonio - African Supergrain

Whether you want to mix it with fruit, olive oil, or a little bit of onion, Yolele’s fonio comes directly from farmers and is sure to please. It’s similar in feel to rice or couscous, but without the gluten. It’s also just as versatile, allowing you to create truly unique dishes.

Gluten-Free Grains

Love the texture and taste of quality, organic grains but wary of gluten? Have no fear! Thrive Market has all the products and information you need to feel your best while you eat your best.

Gluten-Free Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook

Going gluten-free doesn’t have to be as restrictive as you think. With recipes ranging from grilled romaine salad to short ribs to rice crispy treats, Thrive Market has a gluten-free substitution for all of your favorite dishes.

Cutting Out Gluten While Staying Vegan

Handling two food restrictions at once can be overwhelming. Luckily, Thrive Market can help take some of the pressure off with these simple gluten-free recipes. Enjoy wholesome meals like an orange-cayenne tofu bowl and kale nachos.

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