Horizon Verjus
A restaurant industry veteran-turned local food advocate creates a company that upcycles local fruit.
A New Idea
With a background in local wines and sustainable cocktail-making, it naturally followed that Kevin Murphy became a local food advocate. After moving to Littleton, CO in 2021, Kevin combined his drinkmaking expertise with his belief in the farm-to-table movement and founded Horizon Verjus, a maker of “green juice” from unripe grapes.
Verjus has been used for centuries around the world, and can be used as a stand-in for citrus or vinegar in dishes and drinks. Since Verjus is unfermented, it’s naturally non-alcoholic. “The juice’s natural acidity makes it incredibly versatile for food, cocktails, and mocktails”, says Kevin. “Horizon Verjus Company uses 100% Colorado fruit that would otherwise go to waste. Since launching in 2023, our startup has rescued over 10 tons of Colorado fruit.”
“We founded our business to make a difference in Colorado's food system by creating sustainable, upcycled Verjus.”
- Kevin Murphy
A No Brainer
Kevin’s motivation for founding Horizon Verjus was straightforward: to make a meaningful difference in Colorado’s food system by creating a sustainable, upcycled Verjus. By using only Colorado grapes that would otherwise go to waste, the company diverts edible produce from the landfill while offering a local alternative to citrus, a crop that can’t be grown in the state.
It felt like the natural next step then, to become a Zero Foodprint member. “Having started Horizon Verjus to help contribute to a stronger local food system, joining Zero Foodprint and connecting with other mission-aligned organizations was a no-brainer. By working collaboratively, we can have such a greater impact on our planet.”
About Horizon Verjus
“What's the secret ingredient professional chefs know about that can change the way you cook and drink? Verjus!
This juice, pressed from unripe wine grapes, is the reason for our new business based in Littleton, Colorado. Our goal is to have chefs, bartenders, and home cooks reaching for this tasty product instead of lemon juice, lime juice, wine or vinegar whether cooking or making drinks. It's a new staple that will provide a distinctive edge to any dish or beverage.”
Zero Foodprint (ZFP) is a nonprofit organization restoring the climate, one acre at a time. We believe that by regenerating soil, local food economies can play a critical role in reversing the global climate crisis. We work with food and beverage businesses, philanthropy, and government to bring the next dollar to implement the next regenerative practice on the next acre. This regenerative economy benefits every person who grows food, every person who sells food, and every person on this planet who eats food.
