International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise the women who influence our lives - in families, in communities, in science, and in business.
It’s about celebrating leadership, resilience and the quiet determination that drives meaningful change.
At Haskapa, our story begins with one of those women.
Dr Evie Kemp: Occupational Health Physician and Founder
Dr Evie Kemp is an Occupational Health Physician with decades of clinical experience, including senior roles within occupational medicine.
Throughout her career, she worked with individuals and organisations to support long-term wellbeing at work - understanding first-hand how lifestyle, stress and environment shape health outcomes.
Her clinical experience strengthened a simple belief: supporting health before illness develops matters.
That perspective would later shape Haskapa.
From Nova Scotia Orchard to Evidence-Led Nutrition
The story of Haskapa began when Evie and her husband, Simon Fineman a long-time environmental entrepreneur, purchased land in Nova Scotia, where haskap berries grow naturally. What started as a small orchard and seasonal jam evolved into something much bigger.
When Evie, with her medical background, began looking more closely at the haskap berry nutritional profile she found some exciting properties.
Haskap berries are naturally rich in anthocyanins — plant compounds responsible for their deep purple colour and associated with cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Rather than turning the berry into a highly processed supplement, Evie focused on preserving its integrity. Freeze-drying offered a way to maintain nutritional value while creating a practical, everyday format.
She was also the one who carefully calculated that just 3 grams - one teaspoon - delivers a substantial daily dose of anthocyanins.
It was a simple but powerful realisation: meaningful nutritional impact doesn’t need to be complicated.
Science, Simplicity and Purpose
Haskapa was built on a practical foundation:
- Evidence-informed nutrition
- Respect for whole food integrity
- Prevention-focused thinking
- Simplicity in daily use
This International Women’s Day, we recognise the leadership that drives innovation quietly and consistently.
Dr Evie’s journey — from physician to founder — reflects the growing influence of women in health, science and entrepreneurship.
And at Haskapa, that influence continues to shape everything we do.