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Seal the Seasons has raised $350K across 1 funding round.
Key people at Seal the Seasons.
Seal the Seasons has raised $350K in total across 1 funding round.
Seal the Seasons offers flash-frozen local produce, bringing regional farmers' harvests to consumers year-round. The company partners with family-owned farms to source fruits and vegetables, which are then flash-frozen within 24 hours of picking in dedicated allergen and gluten-free facilities. This operational model ensures high quality and extends the availability of locally grown produce beyond typical harvest seasons, providing a reliable supply to markets.
The company was founded in 2015 by Patrick Mateer, then a student at the University of North Carolina. Mateer identified a market need for local produce that could be enjoyed consistently, addressing the challenge of seasonal limitations. His vision was to create a sustainable pipeline that supported local agricultural economies while meeting consumer demand for fresh, regional food options.
Seal the Seasons primarily serves consumers who prioritize eating locally and sustainably, enabling them to access farm-fresh ingredients regardless of the time of year. The company's long-term vision is to build stronger local food systems, advocating for family farms and promoting environmentally conscious practices like regenerative agriculture. They aim to foster a resilient and connected food supply chain for communities.
Key people at Seal the Seasons.
Seal the Seasons is a consumer-packaged goods company that produces flash-frozen fruits and vegetables sourced from local family farms, making seasonal produce available year-round in grocery stores.[1][2][4] It serves health-conscious consumers seeking fresh-tasting, locally grown foods while solving food waste issues for farmers by providing a reliable market and income stream; the company directs over 90% of costs to farms and suppliers, donates 20% of profits to fight food insecurity, and offsets greenhouse gas emissions.[1][3][7] As a certified B Corporation since 2017, it balances profit with purpose through sustainable practices like regenerative agriculture.[1][2] Growth has been strong, with distribution to 6,000 retail locations across 36 states and 20% increases in customer count and sales in 2023, positioning it as the top U.S. locally grown food brand.[4]
Seal the Seasons emerged from a UNC-Chapel Hill public health entrepreneurship class project on food waste and access, led by professor Alice Ammerman.[4] Co-founders Patrick Mateer (CEO), Daniella Uslan, Will Chapman, and Alex Piasecki (COO) drew inspiration from Mateer's work at the Carrboro Farmers Market, where farmers had excess produce that spoiled before the next market; they launched in 2015 as a student-led startup, initially funded by UNC's Carolina Challenge and housed in the CUBE accelerator.[1][3][4] Early traction came from Weaver Street Market as the first retailer in 2015, partnering with North Carolina small farms to freeze and distribute produce.[3] The company expanded from small NC farms to medium/large ones and multiple U.S. regions, freezing at facilities like PFAP in Hillsborough while prioritizing small farms' growth and sustainable methods.[1][3][4]
Seal the Seasons rides the wave of localized food systems and sustainable CPG, leveraging flash-freezing tech—a simple yet scalable innovation—to combat food waste (e.g., excess market crops) amid climate-driven seasonality disruptions.[1][4] Timing aligns with rising demand for traceable, regenerative agriculture as consumers prioritize health, locality, and emissions reduction post-2020 supply chain shocks.[2][7] Market forces like grocery chains' push for local sourcing and B Corp appeal favor it, influencing the ecosystem by scaling small farms (many expanding for Seal the Seasons), opening frozen channels, and proving distributed supply chains can compete nationally.[3][4][5]
Seal the Seasons is poised for further retail expansion into corner stores/food deserts and new regions, potentially launching more organic lines while deepening regenerative partnerships.[3][4] Trends like carbon sequestration mandates and macrobiotic/local eating will propel growth, evolving its influence from NC startup to national model for farm-to-freezer equity. This win-win for farmers and eaters exemplifies how targeted preservation tech sustains communities year-round.[1][7]
Seal the Seasons has raised $350K in total across 1 funding round.
Seal the Seasons has raised $350K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $350K Series A in April 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2023 | $350K Series A | — | — | Announced |
