{"id":79867,"date":"2025-09-09T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=79867"},"modified":"2025-09-22T12:56:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T16:56:40","slug":"the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/","title":{"rendered":"The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids&#8217; Lunch Box"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='storyblock storyblock-wider'>\r\n<div id=\"block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5\"\r\n    class=\"block-standout-header text-image aspect-1-1 \">\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"standout-header-inner none\">\r\n        <div class=\"standout-header-image\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" style=\"object-position: 49.435454655235% 29.523027285628%;\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/croppied-annie.jpg\" alt=\"Annie Chun is the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed. (Image: Courtesy of the company)\"\r\n                    class=\"img-fluid\" \/>\r\n                                    <p class=\"caption\">Annie Chun is the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed. (Image: Courtesy of the company)<\/p>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"standout-header-text\">\r\n            \r\n                            <h1 class=\"entry-title\">The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids&#8217; Lunch Box<\/h1>\r\n            \r\n            <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Korean-born Annie Chun grew up watching her mother roast seaweed on the stovetop. She&#8217;s now the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed, a popular, healthy and sustainable brand.<\/span><\/p>\n\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"entry-meta\">\r\n                <time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-09-09T10:00:00+00:00\">September 9, 2025<\/time>\r\n\r\n                                                    <div class=\"author-meta\">\r\n                        <div class=\"author_thumbnail\">\r\n                                                                                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/userphoto\/51.jpg\" alt=\"Colleen DeBaise\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" class=\"photo\" \/>\r\n                                                    <\/div>\r\n                        <span>\r\n                            <span class='by'>By <\/span>\r\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/colleen-debaise-at-the-story-exchange\/\" title=\"Visit Colleen DeBaise&#8217;s website\" rel=\"author external\">Colleen DeBaise<\/a>\r\n                        <\/span>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner {\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        flex-direction: column;\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        gap: 1.5rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-image {\r\n        order: 1;\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        overflow: hidden;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-image img {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text {\r\n        order: 2;\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        flex-direction: column;\r\n        justify-content: center;\r\n        align-items: center;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n        padding: 1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .logo {\r\n        text-transform: uppercase;\r\n        border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;\r\n        color: #666;\r\n        font-size: 1rem;\r\n        line-height: 1;\r\n        margin-bottom: 1rem;\r\n        font-family: \"Graphik\", sans-serif;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-image .caption {\r\n        margin: .25rem 0 0 0;\r\n        font-style: italic;\r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        font-size: 1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .entry-meta {\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        flex-direction: column;\r\n        font-size: 1.1rem;\r\n        gap: 0.5rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text p {\r\n        font-size: 1.4rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .updated {\r\n        color: #777;\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        align-items: center;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .author-meta {\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        flex-direction: row;\r\n        gap: .5rem;\r\n        justify-content: center;\r\n        align-items: center;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .author-meta .by {\r\n        color: #777;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .author-meta img {\r\n        width: 40px;\r\n        height: 40px;\r\n        border-radius: 50%;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 767px) {\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner .standout-header-image {\r\n            order: 2;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner .standout-header-text {\r\n            order: 1;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 768px) {\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner {\r\n            flex-direction: row;\r\n            min-height: 40vh;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header.text-image .standout-header-image {\r\n            order: 2;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text {\r\n            order: 1;\r\n            margin-top: 0;\r\n            flex: 1;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-image {\r\n            flex: 1;\r\n            display: flex;\r\n            flex-direction: column;\r\n            align-items: center;\r\n            justify-content: center;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-image img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n            width: 100%;\r\n            height: 100%;\r\n            object-fit: cover;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .entry-meta {\r\n            flex-direction: row;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .entry-meta > * {\r\n            padding: 0 1rem;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text .entry-meta>*:not(:last-child) {\r\n            border-right: 1px solid #ddd;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner.brand {\r\n            background: #FFD032;\r\n            gap: 0.5rem;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner.brand * {\r\n            color: #333 !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner.brand .standout-header-text .entry-meta>*:not(:last-child) {\r\n            border-right: 1px solid #333;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner.dark {\r\n            background: #111;\r\n            gap: 0.5rem;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner.dark * {\r\n            color: #eee !important;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-inner.dark .standout-header-text .entry-meta>*:not(:last-child) {\r\n            border-right: 1px solid #eee;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-image img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: auto;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header.aspect-4-3 .standout-header-image img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 4\/3;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header.aspect-16-9 .standout-header-image img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 16\/9;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header.aspect-1-1 .standout-header-image img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header.aspect-9-16 .standout-header-image img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 9\/16;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-text {\r\n            \/*margin-top: -2.5rem;*\/\r\n            flex-grow: 5;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_19cabb11e8651d34b45fb62767a1d4d5.block-standout-header .standout-header-image {\r\n            flex-grow: 4;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Fun fact: &#8220;Gim&#8221; means <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-seaweed-farmer-talks-kelp-2023s-hottest-superfood\/\">seaweed<\/a> in Korean.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And &#8220;gim&#8221; is something that Annie Chun remembers well from her childhood in Seoul, near South Korea&#8217;s west coast. Growing up, she often ate foods from the ocean \u2014 including the <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-surprising-way-seaweed-could-replace-plastic\/\">seaweed<\/a> that her mother would roast on the stovetop with a touch of sesame oil. It was delicious, with fresh flavor and <em>umami<\/em> characteristics, and Chun thought of it often, long after she moved to California as an adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That memory stayed with me, and years later, it inspired the idea for <a href=\"https:\/\/gimmeseaweed.com\/\">Gimme Seaweed<\/a> \u2013 taking something that I loved as a child and reimagining it for a new audience,&#8221; says Chun, a longtime food entrepreneur who has worked in restaurants and the food industry for over 30 years. (She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-food.com\/news\/south-korea-usa-c-j-corp-buys-annie-chuns-of-us\/\">sold<\/a> her previous company, Asian food brand Annie Chun&#8217;s, for $6 million in 2009 to CJ Corp., a big Korean food manufacturer.) In 2012, she and her husband, Steve, who had been developing seaweed-based product ideas, &#8220;recognized an opportunity&#8221; to make the traditional Korean side dish more mainstream in the U.S. \u2013 and launched Gimme Seaweed (a play on &#8220;gim&#8221;) as an organic, non-GMO, sustainable brand.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_cd8ab9a89430dd94fafc313a29050cc8\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-surprising-way-seaweed-could-replace-plastic\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Final-_with-MIX-web-TEXTV20-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Julia Marsh of Sway\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Final-_with-MIX-web-TEXTV20-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Final-_with-MIX-web-TEXTV20-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-surprising-way-seaweed-could-replace-plastic\/\">\n              The Surprising Way Seaweed Could Replace Plastic\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p>Seaweed is considered a regenerative crop, a nutrient dense &#8220;superfood&#8221; that can absorb carbon dioxide and make the ocean cleaner. In recent years, the industry has exploded in popularity, and startups are not just making food with seaweed (like <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2022\/04\/26\/umaro-is-turning-ocean-farmed-seaweed-into-imitation-bacon\/\">imitation bacon<\/a>) but also turning the eco-friendly plant into <a href=\"https:\/\/oceanographicmagazine.com\/news\/seaweed-biofuels-study\/\">biofuels<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-surprising-way-seaweed-could-replace-plastic\/\">plastic alternatives<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chun&#8217;s company, which is USDA-certified, has partnered with <a href=\"https:\/\/repurpose.global\/\">rePurpose Global<\/a> to reduce plastic pollution, as well as the <a href=\"https:\/\/conserveturtles.org\/\">Sea Turtle Conservancy<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatecollaborative.com\/about\">Climate Collaborative<\/a>. Its seaweed snacks are sold in grocery stores and large retailers like Target, Walmart and Costco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, Chun answered our questions about where she sources her seaweed, what keeps her motivated, and how she plans to make seaweed a regular part of American diets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Answers, provided via email, have been lightly edited for length and clarity).&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-in-the-late-1970s-you-immigrated-to-san-francisco-where-your-family-owned-a-korean-restaurant-were-you-surprised-that-seaweed-wasn-t-widely-eaten-in-the-u-s\"><strong>In the late 1970s, you immigrated to San Francisco, where your family owned a Korean restaurant. Were you surprised that seaweed wasn&#8217;t widely eaten in the U.S.?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Seaweed consumption has evolved in the United States, and it seemed to gain some popularity around the time that the famous 1980 miniseries &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0080274\/\">Sh\u014dgun<\/a>&#8221; was screened here. Sushi also grew immensely during this period, and seaweed is a core part of sushi, so seaweed is widely eaten, just not in the form that we typically eat in Korea.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a bit surprising how unfamiliar roasted seaweed was to Americans. For many Americans, seaweed is what they see washed up on the beach, so there is a real \u201cyuck factor\u201d that we have had to overcome.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Gimme Seaweed, we realized that we needed to make seaweed feel exciting, modern and relevant, particularly for younger, more adventurous snackers. It&#8217;s amazing that children have been early adopters. We focus on bold, unexpected flavors like chili lime or our newest, Korean BBQ. We found that when you meet people where they are, with flavor and fun, they\u2019re far more open to trying something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-79890\" style=\"width:697px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124-525x394.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_8124.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-you-and-your-husband-founded-gimme-seaweed-some-13-years-ago-was-it-difficult-to-source-your-product-nbsp\"><strong>When you and your husband founded Gimme Seaweed some 13 years ago, was it difficult to source your product?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2012, there were no USDA-organic seaweed snacks, so we had to do extensive work to convince the farmers to convert to organic farming and get both the Korean and U.S. governments to approve our organic seaweed. We wanted to create a product that honored the integrity of the ocean and represented seaweed in a way that felt authentic, clean and meaningful. That\u2019s why we chose to source our red porphyra (nori) seaweed from South Korea, where the minerals along the coastal waters create ideal growing conditions \u2013 producing seaweed that\u2019s both nutrient-dense and incredibly flavorful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>South Korea also offers the infrastructure and generational expertise needed to ensure quality and consistency. The farmers we work with have been harvesting seaweed for decades using regenerative methods that we were passionate about preserving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-you-tell-us-about-those-regenerative-methods\"><strong>Can you tell us about those regenerative methods?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Seaweed requires no fresh water, soil, fertilizers or pesticides to grow \u2013 just sunlight and the ocean. That makes it a true zero-input food. Unlike land-based agriculture, which can be resource-intensive, seaweed actually improves the environment it grows in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our nori is grown on nets suspended in the water and supported by buoys, rotated regularly to expose it to sunlight and fresh air \u2013 an organic way to preserve the ocean ecosystem without chemical additives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seaweed farming has also been shown to boost oxygen production and absorb carbon dioxide, contributing to the fight against climate change. Our team of scientists and researchers in Korea carefully monitor each step to ensure the highest organic standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We believe seaweed is not only a superfood for people, but also a super solution for the planet \u2013 and we\u2019re proud to lead the way in responsible, organic seaweed farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/17322757055_f2d02172b1_c.jpg\" alt=\"A NASA image of seaward farms in South Korea. The dark squares are fields of seaweed.\" class=\"wp-image-79894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/17322757055_f2d02172b1_c.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/17322757055_f2d02172b1_c-525x320.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/17322757055_f2d02172b1_c-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/17322757055_f2d02172b1_c-150x92.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/17322757055_f2d02172b1_c-98x60.jpg 98w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A NASA image of seaward farms in South Korea. The dark squares are fields of seaweed. (Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/gsfc\/17322757055\/\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">NASA<\/mark><\/a>, Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-do-you-want-people-to-know-about-seaweed\"><strong>What do you want people to know about seaweed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s the most nutrient-dense vegetable on the planet \u2013 period. The fact the children love it is especially encouraging, so that they can integrate savory green vegetables in their diets. This should portend to a healthier future for the American public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-has-been-the-biggest-challenge\"><strong>What has been the biggest challenge?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting more people \u2013 especially in the U.S. \u2013 to try seaweed and see just how versatile and nutrient-dense it really is. In many Asian cultures, it\u2019s a staple, but for a lot of Americans, it\u2019s still unfamiliar or even a little intimidating. Changing that perception takes time, especially when you\u2019re introducing a food that doesn\u2019t naturally fit into traditional Western eating habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Gimme, we\u2019ve focused on education, sampling, and partnering with influencers to show how delicious seaweed can be. Bringing a traditionally Asian food into the American mainstream has been a journey, but it\u2019s also been incredibly rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_07be26a7fb34c02683d43e530aaae1dc\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maines-chilly-waters\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maine-s-chilly-waters_thumbnail-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maine-s-chilly-waters_thumbnail-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maine-s-chilly-waters_thumbnail-525x525.png 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maine-s-chilly-waters_thumbnail-60x60.png 60w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maine-s-chilly-waters_thumbnail-45x45.png 45w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maine-s-chilly-waters_thumbnail.png 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-seaweed-startup-in-maines-chilly-waters\/\">\n              A Seaweed Startup in Maine&#8217;s Chilly Waters\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-keeps-you-motivated-to-do-this-work\"><strong>What keeps you motivated to do this work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It really comes down to two things. First, it\u2019s the opportunity to help transform the way people \u2013 especially children \u2013 eat in this country. So much of the American diet revolves around processed foods, sugar and animal products, and we see seaweed as a simple, delicious way to bring more balance and nutrition into everyday eating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, it\u2019s the chance to do that in a way that\u2019s truly sustainable. The future of food lies in the ocean, but we have to protect it if we want it to keep sustaining us. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with partners around the world to bring a product to market that supports healthier lifestyles while also respecting and preserving marine ecosystems. Knowing we\u2019re making a positive impact on both people\u2019s health and the planet \u2013 that\u2019s what drives me every day. &#x25fc;&#xfe0f;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Korean-born Annie Chun grew up watching her mother roast seaweed on the stovetop. She&#8217;s now the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed, a popular, healthy and sustainable brand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":79885,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f","date":"2025-09-09T10:00:12+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3lyfhjf6ked2l","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3lyfhjf6ked2l\",\"cid\":\"bafyreib3omd6jhihsubryyj2t6dnyre6kjzoxfrjtfsf6ec5zk5bf6pmbu\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreiaoeuuhqqj47phnqxbjmguvu2rcyjnqmk3p4s3rersgdb5e6rqfti\",\"rev\":\"3lyfhjf6xzt2l\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[19527,19644,19483,20396,19643,20527,19731],"class_list":["post-79867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-aapi-women","tag-climate-entrepreneurs","tag-eco-friendly","tag-environmental-impact","tag-older-women","tag-sustainable-food","tag-women-entrepreneurs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids&#039; Lunch Box<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Korean-born Annie Chun grew up watching her mother roast seaweed on the stovetop. She&#039;s now the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids&#039; Lunch Box\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Korean-born Annie Chun grew up watching her mother roast seaweed on the stovetop. She&#039;s now the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed, a popular, healthy and sustainable brand.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Story Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-09T10:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-22T16:56:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/croppied-annie.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1042\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Colleen DeBaise\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Colleen DeBaise\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids' Lunch Box","description":"Korean-born Annie Chun grew up watching her mother roast seaweed on the stovetop. She's now the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids' Lunch Box","og_description":"Korean-born Annie Chun grew up watching her mother roast seaweed on the stovetop. She's now the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed, a popular, healthy and sustainable brand.","og_url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/","og_site_name":"The Story Exchange","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange","article_published_time":"2025-09-09T10:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-22T16:56:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1042,"height":1000,"url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/croppied-annie.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Colleen DeBaise","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@TheStoryXchange","twitter_site":"@TheStoryXchange","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Colleen DeBaise","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/"},"author":{"name":"Colleen DeBaise","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/person\/37ea4af04b473a35e85983067534a6b6"},"headline":"The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids&#8217; Lunch Box","datePublished":"2025-09-09T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-22T16:56:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/"},"wordCount":1172,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/croppied-annie.jpg","keywords":["AAPI Women","Climate Entrepreneurs","Eco-Friendly","Environmental Impact","older women","Sustainable Food","Women Entrepreneurs"],"articleSection":["Features"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/","name":"The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids' Lunch Box","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/croppied-annie.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-09T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-22T16:56:40+00:00","description":"Korean-born Annie Chun grew up watching her mother roast seaweed on the stovetop. She's now the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/croppied-annie.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/croppied-annie.jpg","width":1042,"height":1000,"caption":"Annie Chun is the co-founder of Gimme Seaweed. (Image: Courtesy of the company)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-woman-behind-those-seaweed-snacks-in-your-kids-lunch-box\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Woman Behind Those Seaweed Snacks in Your Kids&#8217; Lunch Box"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/","name":"The Story Exchange","description":"Inspiration and information for women entrepreneurs","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization","name":"The Story Exchange","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/24161459\/TSE-logo-web-e1525383604615.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/24161459\/TSE-logo-web-e1525383604615.png","width":500,"height":180,"caption":"The Story Exchange"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange","https:\/\/x.com\/TheStoryXchange","https:\/\/instagram.com\/thestoryexchange\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-story-exchange","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/StoryExchange"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/person\/37ea4af04b473a35e85983067534a6b6","name":"Colleen DeBaise","description":"Colleen DeBaise is former small business editor of the Wall Street Journal. Her most recent book is \u201cStart a Successful Business.\u201d She has also written about the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship for Inc., Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek, among others. She has been interviewed on MSNBC, Fox, CNBC, CBS and NPR. Colleen has a master\u2019s in journalism from Northwestern University. Contact her at colleen@thestoryexchange.org.","sameAs":["https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/colleen-debaise-at-the-story-exchange\/"],"url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/colleen-debaise-at-the-story-exchange\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79867"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79897,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79867\/revisions\/79897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}