Walsh Jesuit alum Evan Delahanty, ’03, recently appeared on the well-known television show Shark Tank. Although he did not receive an offer, the show provided a platform to get the word out about his business and the inspirational story behind it.

Delahanty founded Peaceful Fruits, a company that produces nutritional fruit strips from organic, non-GMO acai berries harvested in the Amazon Rain Forest. In fact, each of the delicious fruit strips is “packed with over 25 acai berries” and “blended with other whole fruits to make different flavors,” according to Delahanty.

After sampling the product, junior Anuj Luitel offered his enthusiastic approval: “The unique texture of the rough and smooth is perfectly balanced and it has a distinct taste. This is the perfect mid-day snack!”  Classmate Eryn Hass agreed, saying, “I would definitely buy this over any other fruit strip.”

However, the delicious and healthy nature of the fruit strips is not the only factor that makes his company so unique and appealing. Peaceful Fruits works in partnership with communities in the Amazon region in order to promote eco-friendly economic empowerment and  opportunities for those living there. Peaceful Fruits does this by simultaneously offering a just way for indigenous families to make a living and to protect the environment.

After spending two years in the rain forest with the Peace Corps, Delahanty was motivated to stay connected to the people. He explained that acai grows wild on the land where he spent his time with various tribes and noted that it offers an “incredible opportunity for sustainable economic development.” He recognized that food connects all of us, so he “sat down and came up with a product [he] could make and sell.”

Delahanty’s compassion for others does not stop with the source of the ingredients used in his products. Production of Peaceful Fruits’ provides a “full wage employment program” for people with disabilities in the Akron community. His company works in partnership with two local non-profits, Hattie Larlham and The Blick Center, to make the program a reality.

Delahanty acknowledges that starting and maintaining a business built on sound morals and good intentions has not been easy. He noted, “The struggle is that doing things in a way that is not fully authentic and committed to societal good is often easier and cheaper. What I’ve found, though, is that, with a little more effort up front, you can almost always find a way around it that is better for everyone — as both a business and a mission-based organization.”

Juniors, informed of the history behind Peaceful Fruit, were impressed. “It tasted very unique, in a good way, and the story behind the product made it even better,” commented Julia Waltz. Rachel Knoll believes the story should be promoted more:“Don’t judge a book by its cover. It tastes good, but more of the backstory should be on the packaging.”

Commenting on the school motto “Men and Women for others,” Delahanty observed, “Walsh did a great job of making service part of my core values.” He also attested that being men and women for others is “not always about big gestures; it’s about consistently doing that little bit extra to make sure you are a net positive to society.” In addition, he offered some potential ways to contribute to society by either walking down the street and picking up a piece of trash, donating one’s time, or building a business.

The flavorful fruit snacks are available for purchase at many local health food stores such as Whole Foods, Giant Eagle Market District and Kreiger’s.

Purchasing the fruit snacks not only contributes toward a more sustainable global economy, but provides a powerful dose of the super fruit acai. As the Peaceful Fruits slogan states, “snacks made the right way, from the right stuff” offer an opportunity to make a difference.