About our Co-Founders, Jeremy and Connie
Almost as long as, Jeremy Thaler could remember, he had a deep sense and dedication to the spirit of community. Specifically, Jeremy’s fascination with worker-owned cooperatives, organic and sustainable farming, providing healthy food choices, and the nature of working are the core values on which Once Again Nut Butter was built. Jeremy’s concept of community is multifaceted. He believes that people should be paid fair wages for their work, and that people must work in community and togetherness. His belief in togetherness extends to employees, our commodities providers (farmers, bee keepers, international commodities suppliers, etc), as well as our local, national and international communities.
Jeremy grew up in Spokane, Washington. His career began during the 60’s when he worked as a foreclosure specialist in the State of California. He didn’t like the position because of the conflict it caused with his values and the hardships foreclosure created for people. He left his position and headed east. He became involved with the first new wave co-op in CA. Jeremy moved from California to Wisconsin and became involved with the co-ops in Wisconsin, which is where he met his wife, Connie Potter. Jeremy had extended family in the Rochester, NY area, so Connie and he moved to Rochester.
After moving to Rochester, they started a whole-wheat bakery where Jeremy bought a barrel roaster to use for granola making. Jeremy and Connie’s passion for co-ops continued to grow. In 1972, they decided to start a worker cooperative business naming it Clear Eye Distribution. The company distributed to the co-ops in the New England States. In addition to Clear Eye Distribution, Jeremy, Connie and about a dozen others also started a food co-op, which eventually closed and reopened as Abundance Food Co-op.
The bakery became less satisfying for Jeremy’s high energy style. A friend of his got him thinking when he asked him “You have a barrel roaster, why don’t you use it to make peanut butter?” To Jeremy, that sounded like a really neat idea. Jeremy’s next purchases were first a meat grinder and then a spice grinder and his peanut butter ingenuity began! In 1976, with the investment of $125 for a roaster and $600 for a grinder, Once Again Nut Butter was born. Connie and Jeremy wanted to leave the City of Rochester, so they purchased some land outside of Nunda, NY and built a home. They built their home as a peanut butter factory with loading docks. Manufacturing and production occurred in their basement. In 1980, production outgrew their home’s capacity so they purchased a former silk factory in the Village of Nunda, NY.
In the beginning, Once Again Nut Butter only produced peanut butter available in 35 lb. pails. The pails came from a nearby doughnut shop that would throw them away. In love and care for the environment, Jeremy and Connie recycled them for use in their new peanut butter making endeavor. Through the co-op, Clear Eye Distribution, the peanut butter was dispersed. Shortly after producing peanut butter, Once Again introduced cashew butter and then almond butter. In 1972, Jeremy became interested in organic farming. He met a farmer in Livingston County, NY who was growing organically. In 1977, Once Again had grown enough to incorporate. In 1990, they began using the word Organic after they became Organic Crop Improvement Association International (OCIA) certified.
Jeremy Thaler is a person of action, committing personal time and energy into making the world a better place. He has personally invested his time in starting economic development projects, such as, investing in a sewing co-op in Nicaragua. He has made Once Again Nut Butter a company for consumers to feel good about supporting. When you support our company by purchasing our products, you continue to enable us to engage in this mission.
Our Mission:
Once Again, is a democraticaly operated employee-owned workplace. We pride ourselves in providing the health-conscious consumer with products of superior quality and integrity. Located in a small rural community, we are dedicated to supporting organic and sustainable farming practices. We are proud to offer a healthier alternative, where every customer matters.
Our Motto: We spread integrity
International Commitment: We help address issues of poverty by starting and supporting farm co-ops in developing countries, paying US prices for commodities. We participate in farming projects in countries such as Nicaragua. Our projects include fair trade activities, creating growing cooperatives for commodities such as sesames, peanuts and honey. We pay US prices for those commodities and are currently working on obtaining our Fair Trade status.
National Commitment: We were instrumental in helping the United States to develop its organic peanut growing standards. It has been equally important to us to support US farms and bee-keepers. We are committed to ensuring our farmer- partners are receiving a living wage. We support domestic fair trade at home through our local farmer-partners. We are proactive by paying fair prices to our growers and bee-keepers, providing reasonable and fair prices to our customers and healthy food choices for everyone.
Local Commitment: We donate to local food pantries and donate byproducts to local area farmers. In fact, we donate at least 1% of our net income to charity each year. We are committed to providing a fair and living wage to our employees and creating viable jobs in the rural community of Nunda, NY.