Trinidadian entrepreneur Natalia J. Kalloo is preserving her culinary heritage while expanding opportunities for underrepresented food businesses and communities.
For Trinidadian entrepreneur Natalia J. Kalloo, food is more than a business. It is a connection to culture, tradition and community.
Through her brand, Calypso Harvest, Kalloo is introducing traditional Caribbean favorites to kitchens across the United States, making the flavors she grew up with more accessible through frozen food products.
Recently the company reached another milestone. Three of its Caribbean-inspired frozen foods have earned Non-GMO Project verification, supported by funding from the organization’s Equitable Transfer Program (ETP), an initiative designed to help food businesses led by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) overcome barriers to independent product verification.
“For us, Non-GMO Project verification is about more than putting a label on a package,” said Natalia J. Kalloo, founder of Calypso Harvest. “It is about creating greater transparency around the foods we stand behind, strengthening trust with our customers, and showing that small, underrepresented food businesses can pursue rigorous standards while honoring the foods and traditions that are important to our communities.”
The newly verified products include Dhalpuri Roti, a soft flatbread stuffed with seasoned split peas; Bussupshut (Paratha Roti), known for its flaky, layered texture; and Trinidad Doubles, a popular street food featuring curried chickpeas served with soft bara flatbread.
Kalloo’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2019, when she started selling handcrafted spice blends at farmers markets in Washington, D.C., under the name Trini Vybez.
What began with spices eventually grew into a food truck and restaurant. But her vision extends beyond expanding a food brand.
In 2025, she established Victual Solutions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing food access and creating economic opportunities, particularly in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 7 community.
The organization’s plans include developing a community farmers market and introducing programs that make fresh foods more affordable.
Kalloo sees the growth of Calypso Harvest as an opportunity to support those broader community efforts.
“Through Calypso Harvest, we are also committed to reinvesting our growth back into communities experiencing food access challenges, particularly in Ward 7. Having our Dhalpuri Roti, Bussupshut (Paratha Roti), and Trinidad Doubles Verified is an important milestone in that work.”
For smaller food businesses, obtaining independent certifications can come with financial and administrative challenges.
The Non-GMO Project launched its Equitable Transfer Program in 2023 to help address those obstacles and create more opportunities for entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities.
Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $46,000 to 21 businesses, helping 41 products achieve verification. The initiative has also expanded to include Non-UPF Verified, the organization’s newer certification program that evaluates food ingredients, formulation and production methods. Eligible businesses can now seek financial assistance for either Non-GMO Project Verified or Non-UPF Verified certification.
Calypso Harvest is the first recipient of ETP funding to offer Trinidadian or Caribbean frozen foods.
“A better food system needs more voices, more traditions and more people shaping its future,” said Megan Westgate, founder and CEO of the Non-GMO Project. “Natalia brings all of that to the table. She’s building a business rooted in her heritage while creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs and investing in her community. That’s exactly the kind of leadership we want to champion. Our Equitable Transfer Program is about opening doors so more businesses can participate, compete and thrive.”
Applications for the current round of Equitable Transfer Program funding are open through November 13, 2026. Interested businesses can learn more at nongmoproject.org/equitable-transfer-program.
