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Co-founders David and Laura, both longtime D.C. residents, are a father-daughter team. The idea for Yola came up during a family dinner in 2009. Laura had seen a similar concept in Europe and wondered why D.C. didn't have anything like it. David and Laura put their heads together and a year and a half later, Yola was born.

Our energy comes from renewable sources as provided by a combination of offset credits and using our locally generated solar power through Clean Currents.

glossary

There are many buzzwords surrounding green businesses today.

Let's decode a few:

  • biodegradable,
  • compostable,
  • direct trade,
  • fair trade,
  • frozen yogurt vs. regular yogurt,
  • organic food,
  • probiotic,
  • superfood,
  • whole foods

biodegradable

Biodegradable items contain materials that occur naturally. They can degrade into simple, stable compounds that can be absorbed into the ecosystem. However, this can take longer than composting, and an item is still considered biodegradable if it leaves a toxic residue.

compostable

The rate at which a material breaks down. In order for a material to be considered compostable, it must break down into carbon dioxide, biomass, and water at the same rate as paper. Usually in 180 days or less! Many of our cups, cutlery, and paper products are compostable. If they aren’t compostable, then they are biodegradable.

direct trade

Direct Trade was born amidst dissatisfaction with Fair Trade. Direct Trade roasters are concerned that $1.35 for organic is too little to pay farmers (the Direct Trade minimum is $1.60). They have also raised concerns that the standards didn’t ensure rigorously the fair treatment of the farmers and workers, and dissatisfaction with the high cost of Fair Trade certification. These roasters cut out the middlemen, working directly with the farmers and believe that this relationship fosters fairness, as well as allowing the roasters to pay the farmers more. Our coffee roaster, Counter Culture, is Direct Trade certified, so we admit to being biased.

fair trade

Is a set of standards that seeks greater equity in international coffee trade. Fair Trade standards limit ecological damage, puts farmers into politically independent democratic associations, and guarantees a minimum payment of $1.21 per pound to the producers, $1.35 for organic.

frozen yogurt vs. regular yogurt

The key here is that frozen yogurt is not yogurt frozen. Frozen yogurt is a delicious and often low fat dessert, however its nutritional makeup is different than "regular" yogurt. Most yogurts of the non-frozen variety have around 12 grams of protein, while your average froyo has 4. Regular yogurt also has higher amounts of B vitamins, calcium, and live and active cultures a.k.a probiotics (see our probiotic card if you don't know what probiotics are). Also, frozen yogurt has much higher quantities of sugar. But hey, we love both! We just recognize that one is a meal and the other is a fun treat.

organic food

Foods that are not produced with or do not contain synthetic chemicals. While we think that organic is excellent, the certification is rigorous and often difficult for small, family-run farms to maintain. For example, our yogurt producer is not organic but never uses rBST hormones. In some cases our products are organic, in some cases they are not. But we've thought about all of them. We didn’t flip a coin. We made deliberate choices. If you have a question about a particular product or ingredient, just ask.

probiotics

Are the "good bacteria" that are used to make yogurt. Scientific research suggests that probiotics help with digestion, managing lactose intolerance, increasing immune function, and bolstering heart health.

superfood

Superfoods are the Superman of food. They are foods that contain lots of antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins. Examples of superfoods: blueberries, broccoli, walnuts, and yogurt. Long story short, superfoods are super healthy.

whole foods

No, we're not talking about the grocery store. The original phrase "whole foods" refers to foods that have not been processed and exist in their whole form without additional ingredients. An apple is a whole food. A cookie is not. Whole foods do not have preservatives, no high fructose corn syrups, and many say this is the only way we were intended to eat. How many whole foods do you eat a day? How many foods do you eat with under five ingredients that are easily identifiable in nature?

Catering is a nice way to get out of yola and spread the love and the knowledge in the whole wide world. Catering Menu Catering Order Form

Here's the information you’ll need if you want to come check us out.

Yola
1323 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.223.0000


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