Janardan Khorate’s success story is a moving one. When he was 16, he couldn’t bear to see his parents struggle for necessities. He completed his graduation in Special Economics and further pursued MBA and diploma in imports/exports.
Once Khorate met David Gower and his wife Michaela Kelemen in Goa. The couple came from London long ago and later settled in Goa to start Ambrosia Organic Farm in 1993. Khorate travelled to different parts of the world to learn the modern skills, tools, and techniques of organic farming. He was like a son to the foreign couple.
In 2008, Gower entrusted the Ambrosia Organic Farms to Khorate, who took it to new heights. Khorate used his market knowledge and instincts to launch rice cakes and other organic fitness foods. That’s how he got the nickname ‘Saladbaba’.
Later, he began manufacturing fruit-flavoured peanut butter. Soon enough, Saladaba was awarded India’s Youngest Organic Farmer in 2015, and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016. Ambrosia Organic Farm grew tenfold and unlocked numerous achievements:
- 2015 India’s first rice cake manufacturer
- India’s first fruit-flavoured peanut butter manufacturer in 2018
- India’s first organic fitness food manufacturer in 2019
- Recognised by Times of India as Iconic food of the year in 2019, 2020, and 2021
Saladbaba relished the time he spent farming. He says, “Very often I saw people complain about how organic food is expensive, but it's not true. When you have your farm, it's not expensive. I never bought vegetables my entire life because they were free; from my farm. If you know how to make compost, then it becomes so affordable.”
Khorate is today a millionaire who plans to travel the world and consult emerging organic companies with his wisdom, insights, and in-field experience.
