What Does Sustainability Look Like in Practice?
What does it mean to be recognized for sustainability? For me, it means the work is working. That every hand-harvested yaupon leaf, every conversation with the land, and every choice toward equity and regeneration has added up to something meaningful—not just for CatSpring, but for the people and places we’re connected to.
This June, we were honored with the 2025 Stewardship & Sustainability Award by Nutrition Business Journal. I didn’t start CatSpring Yaupon in search of accolades—but this recognition affirms what we’ve always believed: caring deeply and growing responsibly matters.
Fourteen Years of Purpose-Driven Growth
CatSpring Yaupon illustrates what the long haul looks like. Fourteen years ago, I set out to reintroduce a nearly forgotten tradition—yaupon, the only caffeinated plant native to the U.S.—to people who had never heard of it. That meant not only building a brand, but creating an entirely new product category from the ground up.
I quickly realized that doing this the right way would take patience and persistence. But I wasn’t in it for quick wins—I was in it to create something lasting.
From the beginning, I built this company on two non-negotiables: land and people. We use regenerative agriculture to restore native habitats damaged by centuries of overuse. And we hire team members who are rebuilding their lives—individuals often held back by generational poverty or the limitations of a criminal record. Dignity and second chances are part of our supply chain.
A Win for Yaupon, a Win for the Land
This award isn’t just about our product—it’s about our principles. Yaupon is a resilient plant with a powerful story. And from the start, I’ve wanted our business to reflect the same strength and integrity.
We’ve always focused on the long view: how we can restore grasslands, uplift people, and bring a native tea to market in a way that respects its roots. Every decision—from how we package to how we partner—comes back to stewardship.
To see those choices recognized with this award is deeply humbling.
What’s Next: Restoration, Innovation, and Deeper Roots
This honor isn’t the end of anything—it’s a beginning. We’re expanding our grassland restoration work across Texas, guided by traditional ecological knowledge and regenerative science. We're refining our packaging to be more circular and sustainable, and working closely with Indigenous advisors to ensure we tell yaupon’s story with accuracy and respect.
There’s more work ahead, and I feel more energized than ever to keep going.
Thank You for Growing With Us
To everyone who’s stood with us—from our earliest customers to our incredible harvesters, landowners, and partners—thank you. You believed in something wild and worthy. And together, we’ve turned that belief into something real.
Here’s to what we’ve built—and all that’s still to come.
