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Small food producer credits NourishDC for technical assistance, urges continued funding
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Summary
The founder of Harambe Gourmet Pops told the Committee on Business and Economic Development that NourishDC's technical assistance helped scale her small-batch paleta business and asked the Council to continue funding the program.
A Washington entrepreneur told the Committee on Business and Economic Development that NourishDC's cohort-based technical assistance helped her small-batch ice-cream business refine operations and pursue growth, and she urged continued Council funding for the program.
Diana Rios Hasso, founder of Harambe Gourmet Pops, said NourishDC provided mentorship, operational guidance and connections that improved production efficiency and distribution. "Without programs like this, many of us would struggle to overcome barriers of growth," she said, describing how the cohort offered help with production costs, distribution strategies and financing options.
Rios Hasso said her company sells handcrafted Mexican paletas at farmers markets and in several local boutiques and that the program's practical support and networking gave her greater confidence to plan sustainable growth. She asked the committee to continue funding NourishDC so similar food businesses can access technical assistance.
Committee members asked about retail locations and distribution channels; Rios Hasso said she sells primarily direct to consumers at Mount Pleasant and H Street farmers markets and in three boutique stores.
What was not decided: No formal funding vote occurred; the witness requested continued Council funding for NourishDC as part of broader support for local food entrepreneurs.
