Christopher Dawson, founder of authentic Japanese and organic fine foods brands Clearspring, was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award at the Natural & Organic Innovation Awards. The awards ceremony took place on April 16th, after day one of the Natural & Organic Products Europe show at Excel, London.
Dawson was presented the award by Marigold Health Foods MD Patrick Tobin, who cited Dawson's impact on the international organic foods sector and as a genuine pioneer, having advocated for and supported organic agriculture, sustainability and a plant-based diet for over 50 years. From running his own health food shop on London's Old Street in the 1970s, to moving to Japan and working with traditional, artisanal Japanese producers to help them convert to Organic, Christopher Dawson has made a huge impact worldwide on the growth of organic food.
He founded Clearspring in 1993 to help support organic farmers reach a much wider international audience. He was even recognised by the Japanese Government in 2007, one of the only non-Japanese people to receive the Award for Overseas Promotion of Japanese Food from the former Japanese Prime Minister, for his distinguished contribution to the promotion of Japanese organic food worldwide.
Christopher Dawson said about the accolade: “I'm incredibly thankful and honoured to have received this recognition, which took me totally by surprise. I feel privileged to be working with such fantastic people and in an industry that is striving to make the world better, healthier and more sustainable. Even as I turn 70, and we mark Clearspring's 30th anniversary this year, I am as enthusiastic as ever to continue to work and play to convert an acre back to organic each day”.
The Natural and Organic Innovation Awards celebrate the finest in organic innovation, as well champion the movers and shakers who are making a big impact on the growth of organic and natural food in the UK and Europe. Clearspring's new Organic Japanese Kuwa Matcha was also a finalist for Best New Organic Drink Product.
