Craig Sams Home Page

Welcome to my home page.

My name is Craig Sams, I live in Hastings in the south of England. This site links to things I do or in which I have involvement or interest.

Craig Sams

Biography

I was born on a farm in Nebraska in 1944.

After taking a B.Sc Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania I moved to London in 1966 with the aim of opening a macrobiotic restaurant. In 1967, after a brief career in the ethnic fashion and import business (Afghan coats, Indian posters, Tunisian kaftans, Tibetan shoulder bags, hand-dyed silks) I founded, in partnership with my brother Gregory, Whole Earth Foods, a leading organic food company, expanding from its original organic macrobiotic restaurant 'Seed' into retail, wholesaling and manufacturing.

Author of three books: "About Macrobiotics" (1972), The Brown Rice Cookbook (1982, new edition 1992) and The Little Food Book (1993). The Sams family (our Dad Ken, Gregory and me) published "Seed Magazine - The Journal of Organic Living" from 1972-1977. I've been Hon. Treasurer of the Soil Association from 1990 to 2001 and am now the Chairman.

In partnership with my wife Josephine Fairley I founded Green & Black's Organic Chocolate in 1991, an award-winning organic and fair trade confectionery brand whose Maya Gold chocolate was the first product to carry the Fairtrade Mark. I grow most of my own vegetables organically in our potager garden in Hastings and on my allotment nearby. I’m now President of Green & Black's Ltd as well as Chair of Soil Association Certification, the world's leading organic certifiers.



Linked pages to visit

Green & Blacks:
I am proud to have founded, with my wife Josephine Fairley, this excellent brand which embodies some of the finest chocolate products ever made. Maya Gold, which I created to underpin a developmental relationship with the cacao-growing Maya of southern Belize, was the first product to carry the Fairtrade Mark and remains an idealised model of how it is possible to have mutually beneficial relationships between developing world producers and developed world processors.

 

The whole story is in “Sweet Dreams – The Story of Green & Black’s” by Craig Sams and Josephine Fairley.

To purchase our book click on cover.

Sweet Dreams - Green & Black's story

Soma Smoothies:
My son Karim founded this business in the summer of 2001. His organic smoothies are fantastic, if I do say so myself.


Nomato:
Created for those who wish to avoid nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, chilli peppers, capsicums, tobacco). Tasting as good as or better than their tomato-based equivalents, Nomato ketchup, pasta sauce, baked beans, soup and chilli are a dream come true.


Books and Articles
Over the years I've written About Macrobiotics (1972) which was reprinted many times and in many languages, The Brown Rice Macrobiotic Cookbook (1980) and (1994) and, in 2003, The Little Food Book.


I've written columns for Natural Products News and given a few speeches from time to time. Here is a selection.


Macrobiotic Sea Cruise:
In March 2003 we went on a macrobiotic sea cruise in the Caribbean. It was quite an experience and we heartily recommend it as a healthy, holistic holiday option. Here's how it went.


Whole Earth Foods:

My brother Gregory and I founded Whole Earth Foods back in 1967.


Lower Torfield Allotments:
Every spare minute that isn't spent on more urgent but less satisfying activities, is spent with the "other woman" in my marriage. "Lottie" - my allotment just 4 minutes away from home at Lower Torfield


Site last updated 14/06/08

Back to Top

Contact:
craig@craigsams.com