Zoi Maroudas comes from a long line of organic farmers. Originally from Greece, Maroudas immigrated to the United States with her family when she was four-years-old.
"They were organic farmers then. They didn't know what organic farming was," she said. "It was just the natural way of farming, and it was just what was done."
Entrepreneurship is in Maroudas' blood. Her parents opened Pizza Olympia in 1984, on the corner of Spenard. In fact, the family pizzeria is on the same lot where Maroudas' own business would open a little over two decades later.
Maroudas attended Baylor Medical School and her background is in biology. Combining her education and heritage came naturally when she decided to start her own business.
"My passion was always medicine, community, healing and naturals," she said. "I just collaborated them all together and created Bambino's."
Maroudas' hope for Bambino's Organic Baby Food is to help foster a healthier community by introducing organic foods to children in their early years.
"We're able to see children from one to three-years-old, their eating habits and how they've evolved," she said. "Their parents love that they love their vegetables...and we see how our food has helped them...it fills your heart with love because that's why you do it."
Apart from helping parents raise healthier children, Maroudas hopes that her work can expand to the greater community. Beyond providing organic food, she wants to build a promising future for Alaska.
"I do this with all my heart," she said. "I do it with the intention of growing a healthier generation, a healthier community and a healthier economic foundation for Alaska."
https://www.anchoragefoundersproject.us/stories/bambinos-baby-food