May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the contributions that generations of AAPI communities have made to America. The month of May was deliberately chosen, as it marks both the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, on which thousands of Chinese immigrants worked in harsh conditions for less pay than their white counterparts. The idea for a formal recognition was originally proposed by Jeanie Jew, whose great-grandfather was one of the Chinese immigrants who worked on the railroad. In 1977, former Representative Frank Horton introduced legislation to establish Asian Pacific Heritage Week, which President Jimmy Carter signed into law, with the first celebration taking place in May 1979. Over a decade later in 1992, President George H.W. Bush expanded it to a full month.
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at Seward Co-op
Support AAPI-Owned Businesses
Seward Co-op is committed to supporting inclusive businesses every day. This AAPI Heritage Month, we’re proud to highlight a few of the AAPI producers you can find in our stores:
Komoni
Komoni Komoni is a local, woman-owned wellness business selling naturally-derived bath soaks, soaps, lotions, and more. Founder Evangeline Stacy started Komoni from her experience as a sports massage therapist and her upbringing in the Philippines, where she developed passions for service and nature.
World Centric
World Centric was founded by Aseem Das in 2004 with the goal of creating a more sustainable world. While the company started as a platform for humanitarian and environmental awareness, they are now a leading producer of compostable products that donates 25% of its profits to grassroots social and environmental organizations.
Intown Sushi
Intown Sushi is a local, small-scale restaurant and sushi supplier founded by Than Zaw. Drawing on years of experience as a sushi chef, Zaw opened his own business in 2017 that now provides fresh, high-quality sushi to over 30 retail locations across the Twin Cities. Find their rolls, bowls, nigiri, and more in the Grab & Go Deli sections of our Franklin and Friendship stores.
Deep Indian Kitchen
Deep Indian Kitchen is an Indian American family business, originally founded by Bhagwati and Arvind Amin that is now led by their son and CEO, Deepak Amin. Their ready-to-eat frozen meals, appetizers, and breads are made from scratch with family recipes that were passed down for generations in India.
And More!
Both the Franklin and Friendship stores have a variety of AAPI vendors, including Yon’s Foods, Mother-in-Law’s, Jyoti, Country Archer, Tiger Balm, and more.