Eats
Tribeca biz creates granola for a good cause
BY GABE HERMAN
Luv Michael, a nonprofi t that produces granola
and trains and employs people with autism,
opened its fi rst Manhattan commercial kitchen
and learning center in Tribeca on Tuesday, Oct. 24.
The 3,000-square-foot space is at 42 Walker St.,
just below Canal Street, and also includes a small retail
kiosk.
Luv Michael was founded in 2015 by Dr. Lisa Liberatore,
who was inspired by her son Michael, who
has autism and was unable to work after the age of
18. Luv Michael’s website notes that every year, over
50,000 people with autism age out of the school system
and are unable to fi nd meaningful employment.
Liberatore, who is also president of the company,
wanted to create a place where Michael and others
with autism could be trained and educated in the culinary
fi eld, with the goal of giving enough experience
to then have jobs.
“Luv Michael Co. was never designed to be a charity
or provide young autistic adults with ‘something
to do,’” according to Liberatore. Rather, she said the
mission has been to “provide a meaningful culinary
vocation for the Autistic population and to produce
exceptional gluten-free and natural products.”
The company employs ten “granologists,” all of
whom have autism, and who work and train full-time,
fi ve days a week until they are ready to participate in
the manufacturing process.
“Granologists” working to create Luv Michael’s granola.
The employees learn through a fi ve-point curriculum
that was developed with a combination of autism
education and culinary specialists. It’s also based
partly on the New York State food handler’s license
exam.
The granola is organic, nut-free and locally sourced.
COURTESY LUV MICHAEL
Luv Michael distributes its granola to a number of
companies, including Starbucks, Fresh & Co., JetBlue,
D’Agostino Supermarkets, and more than 60 other
retailers in the New York City area. More information
about the company can be found at luvmichael.com.
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