Greenery x Thai Amaranth
- TA Team
- Jul 12
- 10 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Dive into this beautifully written piece by Greenery.org and discover why Thai Amaranth is emerging as Thailand’s next powerhouse superfood. Read the full story below!
🇺🇸 English Version <---
All Credits to Greenery https://www.greenery.org/special-thai-amaranth/ ภาพถ่าย: สุจิตรา นาคะศิริกุล
(English Ver.)
"Thai Amaranth" and the Mission to Cultivate, Transform, and Create Opportunities — Turning Thai Spinach into a Global Superfood
From the simple starting point of “wanting to create delicious, nutritious, and affordable food for everyone,” the product line Reo’s Deli was born under Value Sourcing Co., Ltd. (VSC) around 18 years ago. Since then, this ready-to-eat Italian food brand has grown steadily, with dishes like spinach with cheese, cheesy lasagna, and bacon mac & cheese gaining strong market traction and capturing the hearts of consumers.
What set VSC apart was its deep commitment to quality management across every stage of the value chain—from upstream collaborations with farmers and specialized partners, to the company’s own role as a midstream operator, and finally delivering high-quality products downstream to consumers. All of this was done with a constant awareness of their responsibility to society and the environment, aiming to play a positive role in sustaining the ecosystem.
Now, Thai Amaranth is VSC’s newest initiative—a project that shifts focus toward using locally grown Thai spinach. Through the “Happy Harvest” program, which integrates precision agriculture technology, the company aims to support local farming communities by providing them with stable income and long-term quality of life improvements, while also helping to preserve the environment.
Today, we had the opportunity to speak with Kaem – Salisa Vasuvat, Food Innovation Project Manager at VSC, about Thai Amaranth—a project built not only to strengthen every part of the business ecosystem, but also to generate a positive social impact that can lead to change. The project sets out to establish new standards for healthier lifestyles, improved quality of life, and long-term wellness for people.
This conversation also sheds light on how VSC is staying grounded in its roots, while continuing to grow, expand, and spark global awareness of the beauty and value of Thai agricultural products—thanks to a dedicated team working behind the scenes.
Let’s hear what Kam has to share.
Thai Amaranth 101: From Takeoff to Landing
“If we count up to now, VSC has been operating for 18 years. Our first business was a ready-to-eat Italian food brand called ‘Reo’s Deli’, with our hero product being spinach with cheese. Over the years, VSC has gone through every phase—from early struggles to stability and eventual success. But it was during the COVID-19 period, around 2019–2020, that we began to clearly see the risks to our business—especially in terms of the supply chain. This affected procurement, ingredient sourcing, production, and even product delivery to consumers. Most importantly, it raised concerns about the cleanliness and quality of our products.”
“Since our main ingredient was spinach imported from China, the challenges we faced at the time were related to both quality and availability, which began to fall short of production needs. That’s when we started asking a new question: What if we tried growing spinach locally? After all, Thailand is naturally rich in agricultural resources. That journey led us to Siam Forestry Co., Ltd., a company under SCGP. We were already using their biodegradable packaging in Reo’s Deli products, so we started talking: Could we try co-developing and cultivating spinach together? They had the land, the know-how, and the expertise we needed. And that became the foundation of this collaboration.”
At the heart of this journey is VSC’s belief that:
“Good food leads to a good life. Good food comes from good soil, grown with love. When farmers are happy, producers and distributors are happy too—and that happiness passes directly to the consumers, bringing joy, well-being, and strong health all at once.”
This same philosophy continues to guide the ‘Thai Amaranth’ project, which operates under the ‘Happy Harvest’ program—created to support sustainable farming, local happiness, and nutritional innovation, all in one ecosystem.
“The spinach we began cultivating is different from the original variety we used. We chose a variety called Amaranth, which doesn’t have a Thai name, so we call it Thai Amaranth. This selection was made in collaboration with the Tropical Vegetable Research and Development Center, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen.”
“This Amaranth variety is special—unlike typical commercial spinach, and different from the Chinese spinach we previously used. We discovered that this variety has outstanding qualities: it’s rich in nutrients including protein, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. It has a pleasant texture, a mild and delicious flavor, and no strong green or bitter smell. It’s also heat-tolerant and climate-resilient. From farm to factory, it is delivered fresh, clean, safe, and high in quality.”
An Edible Innovation That Supports Health, the Economy, and the Environment
Thai Amaranth, developed by VSC, is not just about producing a new spinach variety—it is a platform built upon three core pillars:
Cultivate – Developing sustainable and climate-resilient Thai Amaranth farming practices that empower Thai farmers with stable incomes and long-term growth.
Innovate – Elevating Thai Amaranth from a humble local vegetable to a cutting-edge innovation platform that blends agri-science, industrial technology, and sustainability.
Co-create – Opening opportunities for partnership by building collaborative systems, standardizing product quality, and establishing scalable success models that bring Thai Amaranth to global markets.
“Our definition of ‘cultivation’ begins upstream—not just with planting seeds in the soil, but with planting new hope for Thailand through a sustainable agricultural system. Through the Happy Harvest project, we at VSC collaborate with Siam Forestry to develop and select Thai Amaranth varieties best suited to the local climate—heat-tolerant, fast-growing, and harvestable multiple times a year.”
“We promote contract farming, ensuring purchase agreements for growers. We improve quality from the source, including optimal seasonal cultivation techniques, shortened harvest cycles, contamination control processes, farmer training, initial funding support, and customized processing methods that ensure no part of the spinach plant goes to waste—everything is used to its fullest.”
“We’re also committed to ‘transformation,’ with the goal of turning Thai spinach into a global superfood. We believe Thai Amaranth is not just a common local vegetable—it’s a valuable, high-potential ingredient. We don’t want it to remain just a component in a dish, but to become the centerpiece of an innovation platform driven by knowledge, technology, and sustainability.”
“To put it simply, we want to connect businesses, consumers, and the environment, with Thai Amaranth products as the hero—delicious, nutritious, and relevant to modern lifestyles.”
“And finally, we focus on ‘opportunity creation’—fostering collaboration at every level. We want to see cooperation across the entire value chain, from farmers and partner organizations to entrepreneurs who share our vision and long-term goals, working together to grow and create impact.”
From Farm to Fork: Delivering Quality from the Field to the Table
VSC highlights six key strengths of its Thai Amaranth powder, developed through over five years of research and cultivation innovation:
A local functional crop rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants—with the potential to become a new superfood alternative and a sustainable ingredient for global health markets.
End-to-end quality control, from upstream to downstream, using sustainable agriculture systems, specialized seed development, and processing methods that preserve nutritional value, color, aroma, and texture, ensuring quality for both domestic and export markets.
Versatility in application—with spinach powder developed in multiple grades to serve various industries including food, beverages, bakery, and health products.
A future food ingredient, well-aligned with trends like plant-based, clean label, functional food, sustainability, and food as medicine.
Non-GMO development, ensuring the powder is free from genetic modification.
A co-innovation platform, not just for selling raw ingredients but also for collaborating with brands and partners to co-develop and expand into new markets sustainably.
“At first, we didn’t plan to turn it into powder. Our intention was simply to use this vegetable in our Reo’s Deli product line. But once we discovered its nutritional value and potential, we introduced food innovation to enhance the value of this plant.”
“In fact, VSC’s goal with every product we develop is to help people eat better—using better ingredients. With spinach, our aim was to help people—especially children—eat more vegetables.”
The Thai spinach we’ve developed comes in various forms, including frozen vegetables and spinach milk—designed to help children or milk drinkers consume vegetables without resistance.
Later, after showcasing at multiple food exhibitions—including FOODEX JAPAN—we received strong feedback and insights: Thai spinach powder shares a similar color, aroma, and flavor profile with matcha, making it a promising alternative to traditional matcha in the near future.
“Once we gathered all this valuable feedback, we went from producing just one grade of spinach powder to developing nine distinct grades. Each grade is tailored to meet the specific nutritional and functional needs of different industries.”
“For example, some are designed for use in bakery products, pasta, dim sum wrappers, and sauces, offering both color and nutritional value. Others are developed for beverages, such as a matcha powder alternative, which is currently in short supply. Some grades are suitable for use in tofu production or in ready-to-eat meals to enhance their nutritional content.”
“In developing these grades, we’ve made it a priority to use every part of the Thai Amaranth plant to its fullest, striving for zero waste throughout the production process. Today, our spinach powder grades can now be officially certified with nutritional value claims—including vitamins.”
From Seed to Product
“Thai spinach powder already has standout qualities, but as we mentioned earlier, we don’t want to be just a company that supplies raw ingredients. That’s why we take on roles in research, development, and consultation, recommending which grade of powder is best suited to each product type. This collaborative approach allows us to drive Thai spinach forward as a genuinely Thai innovation that can shine on the global stage.”
“As part of this mission, VSC has had the opportunity to collaborate with various entrepreneurs and manufacturers to develop Thai Amaranth-based products—including Innovative Pharma Herbs Co., Ltd., Thevaphan (Tang See Seng) Co., Ltd., and even traditional tofu producers like Intouchtanagorn Co., Ltd. (Seng Heng) from Talat Phlu.”
The Spinach & Shiitake Mushroom Instant Soup (Good Nature Amaranth Balanced Diet) by Innovative Pharma Herbs features Thai Amaranth powder as the main ingredient. Developed and researched by pharmacists, this soup offers a natural energy source and supports physical recovery.
It highlights key nutritional benefits such as being rich in protein, dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin A, while also providing slow-digesting carbohydrates that help regulate blood sugar levels. Additionally, it contains all 9 essential amino acids—packed into a single convenient sachet.
This product is particularly suitable for children, the elderly, individuals with milk or nut allergies, those recovering from illness, and health-conscious consumers.
ChaBrista, a capsule tea product brand from Thevaphan (Tang See Seng) Co., Ltd., saw the potential in our Thai spinach powder and paired it with matcha powder as the base ingredients for their new beverage.
As mentioned earlier, Thai spinach powder shares several similar characteristics with matcha. When blended together, the result is not only a visually appealing tea with a smooth taste and no strong leafy odor, but also a ready-to-drink tea enhanced with added nutritional benefits.
We also partnered with a long-standing tofu producer, Seng Heng (Banana Leaf Tofu), from Intouchtanagorn Co., Ltd. This product is especially interesting because today's consumers are increasingly focused on protein-rich diets. Tofu, a popular and accessible source of protein, has long been a staple food. It can be used in savory dishes or adapted into snacks and even desserts.
With the addition of Thai spinach powder, the product gains a visually striking color—something quite different from traditional tofu—and offers added nutritional value for both those who love vegetables and those who typically avoid them. It truly caters to today’s health-conscious consumers who are looking for more nutritious, innovative options.
Because sustainability is no longer just a passing trend but a new societal expectation for businesses, this aligns with VSC’s core belief that “a good business must grow together with society.” Every action—whether behind the scenes or customer-facing—is designed to uphold this belief, delivering meaningful work and creating a lasting positive impact for the community.
“In fact, this project didn’t start purely from a business perspective. It began with the intention to give farmers a safer alternative crop—one that offers fast cash flow and a guaranteed purchase price. And as someone who works in food, I wanted to deliver quality products to Thai people. I wanted to encourage more vegetable consumption among Thais. That’s the original motivation behind VSC’s efforts to design, develop, and innovate better products for people over the years.”
“For me personally,” says Kam, “sustainability in the context of my role in R&D means being proud of developing a product that can truly serve a wide range of users—and potentially inspire others to build upon what we’ve done.”
“Honestly, we’re never protective or afraid that if one of our products becomes successful, more similar products will appear. On the contrary, we believe that’s a good thing for consumers. It means they’ll have more healthy options that suit their lifestyles. That’s why we’re happy—and motivated—to help people discover and benefit from what we’re creating. Just like with this Thai spinach powder.”
“From a business sustainability perspective, we want to protect our Blue Ocean—that is, we aim to create added value from what already exists by learning from consumer behavior and listening to their needs so we can respond more precisely and improve continually. As for Thai Amaranth, we want it to be a platform for collaboration—a space for developing and co-creating new products together. Our hope is for it to thrive long term and become a key force in driving the sustainability of this crop, making it widely recognized and enduring.”
“Some people might think that in times like these, we must be under pressure or working harder than ever. But for me, and for all of us at VSC, the work has actually become more enjoyable,” Kaem shares.“That’s why I want to thank every team member—both front-end and back-end—who has done their part with dedication and excellence. Everyone has worked so hard, is incredibly talented, and still has fun doing it alongside me. Like I’ve said, we truly believe in what we’re doing. And when we do something, we commit fully, making sure that whatever we develop will genuinely benefit the customer.”
“It’s only with that kind of work that we can proudly say: this is something meaningful. Right now, our goal isn’t just to ensure the survival of the company—it’s to find ways to improve people’s quality of life along the way. We want to create and pass on a legacy of health. We want to help people, society, and the planet. We want to keep this going and make it even better.” (smiles)
In addition to being a rising-star superfood that can be transformed into a wide variety of products, Thai Amaranth is also a nutritious food option that makes it easy to supplement your diet—especially for those who struggle to get enough protein or essential nutrients.
Simply put, it’s a powerful ingredient where “just a little goes a long way.” It supports happiness, well-being, and a healthy body—all at once.
Photography: Sujitra Nakasirikul
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