Something to chew on

Deborah Schimberg, founder and CEO of Verve Inc., won the U.S. Small Business Administration award for Rhode Island Women-owned Small Business of the Year. Verve, the producer of Glee Gum, stood out for its commitment to sustainable production. However, Schimberg was interested in sustainability and social justice before founding the company in 1995. After graduating Brown University, Schimberg began the Southside Community Land Trust and the International Charter School in Rhode Island; both organizations continue to thrive today. She holds a B.A. in comparative literature from Brown University and a master’s of education from Harvard University.

What was the inspiration behind Verve’s educational candy-making kits?

On a visit to Northern Guatemala, I learned about chicle, the sap of the sapodilla trees that grow in the rainforest and had once been the basis of the chewing gum industry. … The Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit followed, and its popularity led to chocolate and gummies kits. The kits are designed to help kids think about where goods come from [and] how natural resources can be used responsibly.

How does using chicle protect the rainforest, as well as the chicleros that harvest it?

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Chicle used to give all gum chewy texture. When synthetic resins became the norm in the 1940s and ’50s, the market for chicle diminished. But, the harvest of chicle is sustainable – the same tree can be safely tapped multiple times. This benefits the local economy by providing an ongoing source of income for skilled laborers and their families.

How does Glee Gum differ from other gum products?

Unlike most gum, Glee Gum contains no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners (like Aspartame), preservatives, or genetically modified ingredients (it’s the only Non-GMO Project-verified gum). Six flavors are sweetened with Fair Trade cane sugar and brown rice syrup, while three flavors of sugar-free Glee use 100 percent xylitol from American birch and beech trees, which has dental benefits. It’s packaged in recyclable material (no blister packs), and made the old-fashioned way, with chicle. Plus, it tastes great. •

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