On March 30, 2025, something special happened at PURIS: we opened our doors to friends, family, and partners for a behind-the-scenes look at what we do—and why it matters. What started as a casual suggestion at a facility meeting quickly grew into an energizing evening filled with discovery, interaction, and pride.

WHY WE DID IT

It started with a simple idea in a team meeting: “What if we hosted an open house and invited our friends and family?” That one question opened the door to a bigger one: What would people actually want to see and understand about what we do at PURIS?

We realized that explaining our work often sounds like, “We make pea protein,” “I work with farmers,” or “Spreadsheets, mostly.” But there’s so much more that goes into building a more sustainable food system. We wanted to create an experience that made that mission come to life—one our families, communities, and even future partners could walk through, taste, and take pride in.

DESIGNING AN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AGES

Our facility team in Minneapolis transformed our HQ into an interactive tour that made the invisible visible—showcasing how PURIS ingredients, innovations, and values show up in the real world. Whether you’re a curious adult, an industry partner, or a kid exploring what “pea protein” even means, we wanted every guest to walk away with a deeper understanding of how sustainable food gets made—and why it matters.

WHAT GUESTS GOT TO DO

The self-guided tour followed a timeline of PURIS history, with immersive, hands-on experiences that brought each part of our work to life

• Tradeshow Booth & Kids’ Coloring Station (Adaptability Room):
  
  Visitors stepped into our tradeshow booth to see what it’s like when our team hits the road to connect with brands and innovators. Meanwhile, kids got creative with PURIS-themed coloring pages—featuring a pea mascot, a bowl of natto, and a Dawson gnome.
  
  
• Anti-Dumping Station (Partnership Room):
  
  This station explained why fair trade matters to our food system. Guests explored the impact of international pricing practices, learned how trade policy affects American agriculture, and got a closer look at the advocacy work we’ve done in D.C. when we fought for fair trade on our pea protein—all laid out in a timeline they could interact with.
  
  
• Taste Test Station (Integrity Room):
  
  Visitors blind-tasted two proteins—one from PURIS, one from an import—and voted on their favorite. It was a fun way to experience the difference quality can make in flavor and function.
  
  
• R&D Sensory Station (Test Kitchen):
  
  Here, guests became part of our product development process. They sampled early-stage clear protein sodas and voted on their favorites, helping shape what we might bring to future trade shows.
  
  
• Dawson Station (Openness Room):
  
  This stop shared the story of our Dawson, MN facility—how it's fueling rural economic growth and making high-quality, traceable protein here in the U.S. A PBS documentary helped bring the town’s transformation to life.
  
  
• Natto Station (Global Vision Room):
  
  Soybeans for natto are one of our biggest exports. Guests learned how PURIS supports global traditions through local agriculture—and even got to taste this fermented staple firsthand.

At the end of the tour, guests were treated to food and drinks made with PURIS ingredients: pasta powered with pea starch and tomato sauce featuring textured pea protein, fresh salads, and protein-packed snack bars—all showing how our ingredients show up in everyday meals.

The layout allowed guests to roam freely while learning about what makes PURIS unique— domestic manufacturing, our ADCVD efforts, and most importantly, our latest and tastiest innovations with our ingredients.

We welcomed around 100 guests—family, friends, partners, and local supporters. The energy was high all evening, lasting right up until we closed the doors at 7 PM.

WHY IT MATTERS

This wasn’t just a company celebration. It was about transparency, education, and connection. As more people become curious about what’s in their food—and where it comes from—we believe it’s important to share how sustainable ingredients are made and why that process matters.

Understanding anti-dumping protections, for example, helps explain why domestic manufacturing supports fair pricing and strong rural economies. Tasting pea protein firsthand helps people see how it fits into delicious, everyday foods. And getting a look inside our operations builds trust—because we believe the future of food should be built in the open.

WHAT'S NEXT

The response was overwhelmingly positive—so much so that we’re already planning to make the PURIS Open House an annual tradition. For us, it’s a way to keep the conversation going, celebrate shared values, and open our doors to the people who make our work possible—from our families to our partners to customers who care about where their food comes from.

We hope next time, you’ll join us.