A new beginning
In September of 2023, Jed Wheeler and Dr. Christopher Hendrickson cofounded Manzanita Cooperative based on the simple idea that climate adaption for agriculture should be based on using crops that fit seamlessly into natural systems instead of destroying them. All across the US, farms are failing at an accelerating rate, and in California in particular water scarcity is the biggest threat. Why not adapt by growing things that grow here naturally?
Working together, they developed a cutting-edge process to rapidly domesticate new crops, and set out to build a unique agricultural cooperative around that process. For two years they have worked tirelessly to build a company that could prove this new approach while also supporting equity and sharing the rewards of the work; building partnerships with community organizations, school districts, nonprofits, and more.
In January of 2024, they began work on a proposal for California’s first modern processing facility for native tree nuts, and along the way developed arguably the most advanced Acorn tannin leaching system in the world, patented a feed supplement for cattle derived from waste tannins that dramatically reduces methane emissions, and started building a team around the idea of sustainable agroforestry using one of humanity’s oldest foods - the Acorn.
Unfortunately, with the recent changes in the US federal grant funding ecosystem, it is now necessary to raise private capital to continue the crop domestication work we originally set out to do. That is impossible as a Cooperative since Venture Capital funds get paid when a company they invest in exits - is sold or goes public - and as a worker-owned Cooperative Manzanita could never do either.
After talking it over with advisors and having long conversations among our membership, in June Manzanita’s membership voted unanimously to split the company into two. Jed and Chris have both stepped down from their former positions and are launching a new company (Aurorevo) to continue the cutting edge crop domestication work as a C-Corp, while expanding their scope to include heritage and orphaned crops. Manzanita will remain a Cooperative and focus on our work around Acorn and other native tree nuts. As of today, that process is complete and Aurorevo is officially open for business!
This change will allow both companies to pursue their core missions with increased focus and greater transparency to our stakeholders. We wish Aurorevo the very best of good fortune and look forward to cheering on their future success - and to growing their improved lupini as a cover crop in our orchards as we move from wild harvesting of acorn to farming it over time! Jed will remain as an advisor for Manzanita, and support our Cooperative through this transition.
In the meantime, Richard Bolton (Chukchansi), our former Harvest Operations Lead, has stepped into the CEO role. Rich is ideal to take over because of his long experience running Bolton Logging, specializing in sustainable forestry and fire abatement that works closely with CalFire and others. This change also gives Manzanita a Californian Native American CEO, which we hope will enhance our partnerships with Tribes and Native-led organizations across California.
