A Plant-Based, Whole-Food Protein Made From Arizona Produced Ingredients

If you’ve ever stopped by the famed Diablo Burger, Arizona local burger joints located in Flagstaff and Tucson, and sampled the alternative veggie burger “The Netzky,” then you’ve had the experience of tasting the goodness of NexVeg’s plant-based offerings. This protein-dense, dairy-free, wheat-free patty is the first to live up to Diablo Burger’s incredibly high standards.

NexVeg is a Flagstaff-based food producer, specializing in creating plant-based, real food for real people AND connecting regional specialty farmers, local mills, and culinary techniques to its offerings. NexVeg makes all of its protein options from whole foods and has three product lines that include Ramona Farms Tepary Bean protein, black bean protein, and high-performance hemp and seed protein.

Founder, Jonathan Netzky

All of NexVeg’s products are vegan, soy- and gluten-free, and made with organic vegetables, beans, and seeds that are sourced locally. While they don’t claim to imitate animal-based products, they create flavorful and versatile meat replacements without the carbon footprint of most other offerings in the category.

NexVeg is quickly making its descent into other parts of Arizona and restaurants in Phoenix and Tucson. Pita Jungle recently announced they are adding NexVeg’s Southwest Hemp and Tepary proteins to their menu; and Pedal Haus, Switch, Sedona Beer Co., and Toasted Owl are just a handful of restaurants where you can experience the goodness of NexVeg. 

The Challenge of Being a Food Producer in Flagstaff

NexVeg is experiencing some unique growing pains. The company has been able to expand to Phoenix and Tucson but other parts of the state have taken a little more time, especially during the pandemic. The mission of taking its plant-based offering to the restaurant masses has proven to be a challenge. Flagstaff is disproportionately expensive to ship from, owner Jonathan Netzky shared. And with their commitment to creating a product that has a minimal carbon footprint, finding ways to deliver their product that aligns with this principle has been a struggle.

Flagstaff is an amazing town with a strong community. The place is bustling with outdoor activities due to its lush natural landscape. It is connected by two major freeways and a freight rail line. However, updates in transportation and infrastructure have not been quick to catch up in this mountainside town. Freight trains and distribution ports are aging and in need of updating. The I-40 has not been updated for newer trucks with state-of-the-art refrigeration that would be best for moving NexVeg products across state lines. This makes it especially hard for them to transport their whole food products, which require reaching their destination quickly.

NexVeg continues to weigh their options and they’re looking at out-of-the box strategies to get their product out to restaurants across Arizona and into other states. Their deeply held principles of creating a product that is made with local ingredients and is transported in ways that support their farm-to-table philosophy continue to guide their choices. 

For now, Arizonans can still enjoy this amazing plant-based offering before it hits the mainstream markets. To find a restaurant near you that is using NexVeg to create amazing vegan/vegetarian dishes, click here. If you’re a chef or restaurant owner looking for a more local plant-based meat alternative, visit the NexVeg website to find how to place your order.