A Squamish mother’s frustration with the lack of genuinely healthy snack options has turned into a fast-growing local food business.
In a press release, Harp Shahi announced the launch of Purity Bite, a line of vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free food bites that debuted at the Squamish Farmers Market in December 2025. The products are now sold at Stongs Market, Green Olive Market, and Café, with two more locations expected soon.
The idea stemmed from Shahi’s search for snacks to support her children’s health after they frequently fell ill. Her research pointed to omega-3 intake as a booster for immunity and focus in children — but she couldn’t find snacks free of processed ingredients, so she made her own.
“I wanted to avoid feeding my family lab-created unhealthy ingredients such as industrial starches, emulsifiers, and additives,” Shahi said.
According to the press release, all three Purity Bite varieties — Omega Food Bites with dark chocolate, nutty Fiber Food Bites with sesame seeds, and sweet-and-sour Vitamin C Food Bites — are sweetened naturally with dates and jaggery, an unrefined cane sugar that retains its natural nutrients. The snacks contain no preservatives, chemicals, additives, or refined sugars. Vitamin C is sourced from camu camu powder, a fruit high in antioxidants.
Shahi developed the recipes at home using everyday ingredients: chia seeds, flax seeds, cashews, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. “We believe in sourcing all our nutrients from food, without any supplements to artificially boost vitamins or minerals,” she said.
The press release noted that the business has faced early challenges, including securing production space, approaching distributors, and managing manufacturing logistics. Shahi said she is leaning on guidance from established local entrepreneurs.
Consumer interest has been strong. At a recent demo at Stongs Market, Shahi said she fielded multiple requests from Vancouver shoppers — but she’s focused on building a solid Squamish presence before expanding. “At Purity Bite, our goal is to establish a brand with offerings that our customers can trust completely,” she said.
