Meet Javion Blake | Product Design Engineer & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Javion Blake and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Javion, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Growing up in Jamaica, it was a painful watching fruits go to waste after vendors at the local farmers markets discard leftover produce. These vendors were not equipped with the refrigeration system required to store the produce for the next week’s market, and neither did they have a feasible approach that could extend the shelf life. Imagine witnessing this food waste while concurrently hearing discussions of national unemployment being out of control. As a child, I never accepted this had to be the reality. I believe for many years that these wasted foods were valuable and through unlocking those values, we could employ many in the sustainable agriculture sector. We don’t have to imagine now because we can now act and make that world the new reality. Many years later, I would leave Jamaica to study engineering in United States where I would be able to learn many scientific techniques necessary to expand beyond those natural limitations. Furnished with a dream and some personal capital in the fall season of 2019, I was able to start the mission of creating value from the wasted food I witnessed as a child. We offer customers the opportunity to experience this journey of making a positive difference in the world, alongside us, when they purchase our delicious yet simply healthy ingredients containing packaged goods.

We produce and market CPG products using superfoods, like Breadfruit, to expand mainstream retail options while reducing climate change. Founded in Denver, CO in autumn 2019; we are just getting started in disrupting the natural food industry.
We are not a discount brand; we target that segment of the market that wants every dollar spent to have a positive impact on the lives of the producers and suppliers. In return, we deliver high quality premium products without the BS.

This tropical fruit, Breadfruit, has been a staple food in the regions of the world where you spend your vacations, however, it is known by different names such as Ulu in Hawaii, Fruta de Pana in Puerto Rico, Ukwa in West Africa, and Bakri-Chajhar in parts of India. Described by first-time tasters as a mixture between the crunchy-ness of potato chips and tropical savory flavor of plantain chips; it surely makes you wonder where these superfood crisps have been hiding? In the family with Jackfruit, this “tropical potato” offers a delicious, nutritious, naturally gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, low glycemic, lightly sea salted, simple ingredient, and relatively low-calorie fruit crisps. Additional benefits to your diet are that Breadfruit is a superfood providing potassium, antioxidants, fibers, vitamins and minerals. Finger-licking good alone, it goes well with traditional dips such as hummus, guacamole, and salsa dips.

Breadfruit is tremendously beneficial to the environment, as planting the tree once and waiting 3 – 5 years to start bearing fruits will yield 450lbs (200kg) every year for generations, reducing climate change impact. Additionally, farming the regenerative agriculture friendly crop will provide a livelihood for farmers in developing countries worldwide who are predicted as most likely to be significantly impacted by climate change, and with Breadfruit being one of the highest yields per farming acreage; a large portion of the fruits currently goes to waste as the fruits have a very short shelf life in the natural state. By using our business model to extend the shelf-life of the fruit, we are by extension reducing food waste and upcycling waste to market value.
In Jamaica, Breadfruit is typically prepared boiled (or steamed), roasted or re-fried. We are merely expanding the diversity of the fruit by developing the first fair-trade standardized supply-chain in Western United States. Mutiny on the Bounty tells the tale of how captain Bligh in the 1700’s brought the fruit from Tahiti to Jamaica, and now 300-years later Breadfruit is online everywhere! In our sourcing, we optimize the benefits to our people and planet.

We recently launched our Breadfruit Pancake Mix which is a gluten-free/grain-free superfood option that contains only four (4) ingredients. Yet, even with the simplicity the feedback has overwhelmingly been that the pancakes are tasty, and the cooking instructions are easy to follow. Containing only low glycemic ingredients, you can skip the sugar spikes you would get with the traditional pancakes on the markets. We will be launching a new product line shortly as a part of our dry mix variation as well as new flavors of our breadfruit chips.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I migrated from Jamaica to the United States to pursue a tertiary level education in engineering after transferring from the University of Technology, Jamaica. I completed a Master of Science (MSc.) in Industrial and Management Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace from Montana State University, Bozeman. Following graduation, I relocated to Denver, CO where I worked as a Product Design Engineer creating novel and innovative solutions for real-world challenges across several industries including air purification, mining Capex machinery, medical device design, and natural food supply chain design and development. My product design engineer work in the dust and fumes collection industry have produced two (2) patents which were filed in the USPTO in 2016. I most recently worked in the medical device industry designing diagnostics devices used in the fights against COVID19 pandemic. However, I started leading a program at the World Trade Center Denver that seeks to assist the community of immigrant entrepreneur to rebuild better following the pandemic as Global Business Support Manager in the Global Trade Activator Immigrant and Refugee Program. I do not think I would describe what I have been able to accomplish as far as easy. However, I would describe it as simple even if it does not seem that way while I am going through it. I think the thing that it took so far is a confidence to believe it is possible and remaining persistent when heat of the battle is on. I know many others that will read this have the capacity to define their own level of greatness and bring it to life. A lesson learnt is to not just work hard but define the path you want to travel so you can be sure that the effort you are putting in is moving the needle in your favor. Secondly, I would suggest that a dedicated team is a secret weapon that make your journey a lot more fulfilling. Strategic partners are another tool that have been very pivotal in helping this project along. I do not focus on competition. I always try to focus on the customer and conceive new ways how strategic partnerships can help to serve them even better. It is all a game of win-win relationship when I think about business. Especially when you are not backed by a significant amount of capital, like in our case, we must rely on strategic partners.

Regarding Jus Chill as a brand, we produce and market CPG products using superfoods, like Breadfruit, to expand mainstream retail options while reducing climate change. Founded in Denver, CO in autumn 2019; we are just getting started in disrupting the natural food industry. We are not a discount brand; we target that segment of the market that wants every dollar spent to have a positive impact on the lives of the producers and suppliers. In return, we deliver high quality premium products without the BS. Jus Chill, which is a brand, known internationally as the conveyor of commercialized Breadfruit by-products in western United States mainland. Starting from an idea in 2019, Breadfruit Chips have been shipped to over 45 states in the United States less than two years later developing the first trade route and commercial operation for the fruit between Colorado and Jamaica.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I don’t have a lot of time that I’ve been spending outside these past few years since I’ve busy working on this project mostly. However, I really like the outdoors such as walking through Wash Park or City Park. I really like biking the Cherry Creek trail up to Cherry Creek reservoir and back. I recently have become fascinated by the Museum of Nature and Science. As for areas where I typically dine, I would have to say that RiNo, Cherry Creek North and Denver Tech Center are the highest on the list. Whenever I have the time, I really like driving up Boulder for a good hike to Mount Sanitas or Green Mountain, name a few.

Another treasured spot in downtown you can find me at the REI off 15th street where you can sit and over look the river. Reggae Pot restaurant and Wah Gwaan Brewery, even though I don’t drink beer I really like the atmosphere, have become a favorite as well. I think another treasure is the farmers market you can find on south pearl during the weekend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think that growing up in Jamaica really empowered me with a level of confidence to step out and try something without the fear of failing because if my first attempt was not successful; I have at least learnt something new. I think I might have gotten that confidence from mother. Building on this foundation, I was equipped to travel to new lands and become a part of a community like moving to Bozeman, Montana not know a single person prior yet being accept by my university community. Similarly, moving to Colorado community where I have been able to become a part of the leadership board of WorldDenver and World Trade Center Denver while building a community of supporter who are vested in my success, and I am vested in their success reciprocally. I have each of these communities to thank for all that I have been able to make from this life I have been blessed with so far. In particular for this project, I was able to meet with people like John Maggio who is a Co-founder of Boulder Chips and Cocktail Squad who offered some very valuable insights. In regards to shipping and logistics, Mark Saxelby and the team of Crane Worldwide were very instrumental helping to develop the shipping protocols of the supply-chain. I could keep listing names but overall I think the wider community really accept me and came in wherever there was an opportunity to help.

Website: www.123juschill.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iifoods_juschill/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iifoods-juschill/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iifoods/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxpb8iu3Xhk

Image Credits
Shereeka James Sertac Akar