​We Weren't Looking for Kombucha... We Were Looking for People Like This.

Every once in a while, life introduces you to someone who reminds you why you started doing what you do in the first place.

This is one of those stories.

Last spring, Tracy and I attended the Kegs & Eggs Festival at Washington Township Park right here in Avon. If you've never been, it's one of those events that reminds you why we love this community so much. Local businesses, great food, familiar faces, and people simply enjoying a beautiful Indiana day together.

For the past three years, Humanity Health has proudly sponsored the event's souvenir cups. Ironically, this was the very first year Tracy and I were actually able to attend. Between travel, our daughters' lacrosse schedules, and life in general, something always seemed to keep us away.

Looking back now...

I'm really glad we made it.

Like most local events, we spent the day visiting with people, meeting vendors, catching up with familiar faces, and enjoying being part of the community.

Then a young man walked over to our booth.

His name was Mickey.

He introduced himself, smiled, and asked a simple question.

"So... do you guys like kombucha?"

I laughed.

"Honestly? No."

Now, before all the kombucha lovers stop reading, let me explain.

I'd certainly heard about kombucha over the years. Working in the wellness industry, it's something that comes up from time to time. One of our former team members was passionate about gut health and often talked about kombucha.

The problem was...

Every time I had tried it, it tasted like vinegar.

It just wasn't for me.

Mickey didn't argue with me.

He didn't try to convince me I was wrong.

He didn't launch into some long sales pitch about why I needed to try his product.

Instead, he smiled and simply said,

"I think if you try ours... you'll change your mind."

There was something about the way he said it.

It wasn't confidence in selling.

It was confidence in what he and his family had created.

You can usually tell the difference.

People who truly believe in what they're doing don't have to pressure anyone.

Their passion speaks for itself.

A few minutes later, curiosity got the better of me.

I walked over to their booth.

That's where I met his wife, Caitlin.

They handed me a sample.

And honestly...

I was surprised.

Not because I suddenly became a kombucha expert.

Far from it.

I was surprised because...

I actually liked it.

It was fresh.

Clean.

Refreshing.

Nothing like the kombucha I had tried before.

But if I'm being honest, the drink wasn't the biggest surprise that day.

The biggest surprise was the people standing behind the table.

As I continued talking to Mickey and Caitlin, something immediately stood out.

These weren't people trying to build a business as fast as they could.

These were people building something they genuinely believed in.

A husband and wife.

A young family.

People who cared deeply about what they were creating and why they were creating it.

Our conversation was short because we were both working the event, but before I walked away I told Mickey,

"I think we should talk."

Mickey, softly replied with a smile, “I’ll have my people reach out to your people,” as he wrenched on the tap.

There was something there.

Not just in the kombucha.

In the people.

Over the next few weeks, I probably called Mickey more than he expected.

The truth is, I wasn't chasing kombucha.

I was chasing the opportunity to get to know the people behind it.

As Tracy and I learned more about Pure Culture Kombucha, the more we realized how much we had in common.

They're a family business.

We're a family business.

They believe in building relationships.

So do we.

They care deeply about quality.

So do we.

They believe trust has to come before business.

We couldn't agree more.

As we spent more time together, we learned about their journey.

How Caitlin began making kombucha years ago using a recipe that had been shared with her long before Pure Culture Kombucha ever existed.

How they made it at home for years simply because they loved it.

How it became part of their family's everyday life before it ever became a business.

That matters to me.

Because the best businesses usually don't start with someone asking,

"How can I make money?"

They start with someone asking,

"How can I make something better?"

That's exactly what I saw in Mickey and Caitlin.

People often ask Tracy and me how we decide what products or companies we bring into Humanity Health.

The answer is actually pretty simple.

We don't start with products.

We start with people.

Over the years, we've had countless opportunities to carry different brands.

Some were good products.

Some weren't.

But we've always believed that products don't build partnerships.

People do.

Before we'll ever put something on our shelves or recommend it to someone who walks through our doors, we have to believe in the people behind it.

Do they care?

Are they honest?

Do they truly stand behind what they're creating?

If the answer isn't yes...

It's probably not a partnership we're interested in.

That philosophy has served us well for the past ten years, and it's one we'll never compromise.

That's why partnering with Pure Culture felt so natural.

Not because we were looking to sell kombucha.

Because we found people who share the same values we do.

People who believe relationships matter.

People who care about education more than pressure.

People who understand that business isn't just about transactions.

It's about serving your community well.

Over the next several weeks, we're excited to introduce you to Pure Culture, share their story, answer some of the questions we hear most often about kombucha, and show you something new we've been working on here at Humanity Health.

We honestly don't know exactly where this journey will lead.

But we do know this...

Some of the best things that have happened in our lives started with one simple conversation.

This was one of them.

We hope you'll stop in sometime over the next few weeks, say hello, and experience what we've been so excited to share.

Whether you leave with a bottle of kombucha, a refillable growler, or simply a great conversation...

We'll be glad you stopped by.

See you soon.

– Brent & Tracy
Humanity Health