Valeria Alvarez is on a mission to make something beautiful out of ugly fruit. After a trip to Indonesia that inspired her to start a smoothie bowl business, Valeria began researching the food system in earnest. She quickly discovered the monstrous amount of bananas that become trash every year and Peel Soft Serve, the banana-based soft-serve shop in Miami Shores, was born. Made of only two ingredients, bananas and coconut milk, the soft serve is a sustainable treat fit for the future. 

Valeria chats with host Abena Anim-Somuah about her upbringing in Colombia, the ins and outs of running a sustainable food business, and the story behind the original “Peel-mobile,” a retrofitted Italian Piaggio.  

Don’t miss Valeria’s voicemail to her future self!

Thank you to Kerrygold, Hampton Grocer, and Dona for supporting today’s show.  

More on Valeria: Instagram, Peel Soft Serve
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Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here

Learn more about Cherry Bombe Jubilee here

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network