A health food store on Flatbush Avenue.

We started making kale chips in 2008 at the New York Naturals store on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. They sold. Soon they were in stores including Whole Foods and Union Market. In 2010 the cooking moved into a larger workshop. The chips and the krackers are now made at Salt Road Food Hub.

The kale chips and the kale krackers are the New York Naturals snacks.

How a chip gets made

We prep farm-fresh kale, coat the whole leaves with a thick batter of seeds, nuts, and seasonings, and dehydrate them for 12 hours below 115°F. The krackers are the same idea in a different shape: kale and whole seeds, mixed by hand and dried under that same temperature.

We say raw because the snacks themselves never get hot enough to cook the kale the way a higher heat would. A few ingredients are not raw. Nutritional yeast is pasteurized so it is edible. Sea salt may have been heated by the sun. Where staying raw protects the food, we keep it raw.

The facility is gluten-free. Everything we make is vegan. A retail box of chips is about half a pound of fresh kale, which is why the calories are higher than a starch chip: the leaf is concentrated, and so are the cashews and sunflower seeds.

Straight answers

Are the snacks organic?: They are not certified organic. The cacao is organic, and some batches use kale from local organic farms when we can buy it at a price that still makes sense. Certified organic kale often costs twice as much, and these snacks are already more expensive than a cereal chip. We use local kale when we can, organic or not, because we would rather buy from nearby farms.
Which flavors have nuts?: Sea Salt & Vinegar chips are nut-free. Vegan Cheese, Coconut Cacao, and both krackers contain cashews. The krackers also contain sesame. Everything is made in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, and soy. These chips and krackers do not have soy in the recipe.
Why did my chips turn soft, or arrive in pieces?: The crunch depends on a tight seal and a dry cupboard. Leave the box open and the leaves take on moisture. The chips start as whole leaves. Some have to be broken to fit the box, and more can break on the way because they are fragile. Crumbs are still good on eggs and salad.
How long do they keep?: Kale chips keep for six months from the day they were made. The date is on the back of the box. Vacuum-packed krackers are sealed to stay fresh for more than two years. You may find a small desiccant pack in the bag. It keeps moisture out. Do not eat it.
What are the bags and boxes packed in?: Recycled paper. No plastic packing peanuts.

In print

“Thin and glazed with various seasonings, they not only are snack worthy and packed with nutrients, but they can also be used for dipping or as a salad topping or a garnish for all sorts of dishes, like baked fish or even soups.”
The New York Times, 2010
“Buckle your seat belt, because the flavor-packed kale chips from New York Naturals are sure to take you on a spicy trip. I’ve sampled veggie chips before, and none of them pack a crunch like these savory snacks.”
Health
“New York Naturals wins this battle easily.”
The Village Voice

The New York Magazine profile from the same years followed the chips from the shop onto health-food shelves.