The multibillion-dollar trend of meat, seafood, and dairy analogs made from plant protein is churning forward with double-digit growth in spite of premature pronouncements of its impending demise. In fact, according to a recent study by Grand View Research predicted that the global vegan food market—read “plant-based”—will surpass $37 billion by 2030.

It makes sense: Both plant-based protein and plant-based in general have been driven by a perfect storm of conditions that include consumer education about and concern for their health and the health of the environment, including land use, resources, climate impact, and fair trade.

At the same time, the culinary world is still riding the crest of a wave of interest in global flavors and cuisines, most of which are traditionally plant-centered. And finally, ingredient technology has been advancing exponentially, allowing for plant-based protein products to act not just as substitutes for but increasingly accurate mimics of animal protein products.

All in all, it adds up to the truth that plant-based is neither or fad or even a trend. It is a paradigm shift and here to stay, despite any fluctuations in specific product types or companies making them. And with the global demand for inexpensive protein continuing to grow (and at a faster rate than the population), protein will also always be the most popular macronutrient around.

New and different

With such prodigious growth, the biggest challenge becomes one of how to make products that are unique and stand out, without forgetting that the key to success is having a product be exceptional overall because it tastes great. Those social ingredients of sustainability, eco-friendly, and fair trade are the added value, not the foundation.

One product maker who has cracked the code of exceptionality in the highly frenzied and increasingly crowded field of plant-based protein is Chi Foods, by Imlak’esh Organics, Inc. The makers of plant-based ground pork and pork chorizo analogs was co-founded by Tucker Garrison, and in this rapidly growing universe of plant-based meats, where alternate proteins are the star ingredients, Chi Foods is truly a unique player.

The primary source of protein for this true pioneer is the South American sacha inchi nut, a star-shaped rainforest nut that boasts more than a quarter of its content as protein and around half of its fat component as omega-3 fatty acids. Watch the video interview with, or listen below to, Tucker Garrison as he discusses how he came to the strange sacha inchi nut and the technical challenges he faced in creating the Chi Foods line of protein analog products, as well as the approaches he used to meet those challenges.