006: Preserving the Future of the Caviar Industry with Sustainable Farming Systems with Petra Bergstein

Essential Ingredients Podcast

“I know that if I'm willing to work for it, I can keep working.” -Petra Bergstein

Caviar is a delicacy that's enjoyed all over the world. But it's not just about eating it on crackers or as an hors d'oeuvre—caviar can be used in many different ways: from baking to cocktails, to salads and desserts.

Caviar is a very delicate and scarce commodity, which means that if we're not responsible enough to preserve and protect it, it will be gone forever. The only way to ensure that this precious resource will be available for future generations is to create a sustainable system for its production. This is why we need to take a moment to examine the current state of one of the world's most expensive food.

The Caviar Co. was born when two sisters opened their own caviar business in San Francisco. Petra Bergstein-Higby and her older sister, Saskia wanted to share their passion for caviar with the world in an approachable and sustainable way. They also wanted to educate the people about this exquisite delicacy, not only to help them find the right caviar for their taste buds but also to hold caviar companies accountable to keep them from deceitfully mislabeling their products.

The caviars available at The Caviar Co. are not wild-caught but come from farms that have their own broodstock. They also make sure that the well-being of the fishes was well taken care of and have reached a mature age before they were harvested.

Listen in as Justine and Petra help us understand caviar and its different types more, how the caviar companies can follow a sustainable course in their farming methods, how to overcome self-doubt when starting a passion project, and Petra’s advice for entrepreneurs who wish to grow their business.

Meet Petra:

Petra Bergstein-Higby didn't think about caviar much growing up in Texas, but now it has become her passion. After graduating from Texas University, her first job was in a caviar company. She did everything she could to learn everything about the caviar trade— from spawning to processing and sales. In 2015, she and her sister Saskia founded The Caviar Co. and were able to expand their business with their newest shop at Tiburon.

When Saskia got married and moved back to Texas, Petra became the sole owner of the company. When she's out of the office, Petra enjoys spending time with her husband, Alex and their daughter, Adriana.

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Episode Highlights:

02:58 The Cool Side of the Hospitality Industry

06:43 How to be Sustainable

10:01 Get to Know Your Caviar

17:14 Keep Working for It!

21:13 What’s Next for The Caviar Co.?