The founders of the local mocktail company PARCH, Rodolfo Aldana and Ila Byrne, recently won a $20,000 grant and six-month mentorship with the Greenhouse Accelerator program.

The collaborative accelerator program, which is overlooked by PepsiCo, is designed to help the growth of “emerging and sustainable brands in the food and beverage sector.” The program keeps an eye out for “breakthrough start-ups” and donates funds to help grow their businesses even more.

This is the first year the Greenhouse Accelerator program has focused on Latino-owned businesses.

If you haven’t had a chance to taste one of PARCH’s beverages, the non-alcoholic agave cocktails are infused with desert botanicals and adaptogens. A lot of the research and development of the drinks have taken place at Mission Garden.

“At PARCH we believe everyone (regardless of if they drink alcohol or not) deserves great tasting, carefully crafted, complex beverages blended in harmony with nature. We created PARCH as a refreshing, curious, and credible alternative to alcohol by replacing ethanol with active adaptogens for a healthier approach to stress relief, indulgence, and enjoyment.”

–Rodolfo Aldana & Ila Byrne

After the mentorship, in November, Rodolfo Aldana and the nine other finalists will find out if they are the grand winner. The winner will receive an additional $100,000 and a continued working relationship with PepsiCo.

You can find PATCH non-alcoholic mocktails at local spots in town like Hotel McCoy, 5 Points Market & Restaurant, Westbound, Choice & Co., Mission Garden, and Flora’s Market Run.

For more information, visit drinkparch.com and follow PARCH on Instagram.

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