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Who we are

Kokora: Unity of heart, mind, and spirit

An invitation to celebrate the interconnectedness of everything.

Our name is inspired by the Japanese term kokoro, alternately translated as “mind,” “heart,” or “spirit.”

In our interpretation, there is no separation between these words, only a deep weaving — a unity that we see mirrored in the natural world. Kokora invites us to honor the oneness of nature and the vast web of connections that make us whole.

Regenerative Organic

We prioritize the health of soil, plants, animals, and humans through sustainable and holistic farming methods that restore ecosystems and combat climate change.

Fair Trade

We ensure that the organic growers we partner with receive fair wages, safe working conditions, and support for community development.

Discovery Research

We delve into the science of herbs, using cell biology models to illuminate their intricate inner workings and potential to enhance health and vitality.

Full-Spectrum Potency

We preserve the natural and synergistic balance of our herbs’ bioactive components, retaining their incredible nutritive and healing qualities.

Superior Concentration

We ensure our herbs’ phytonutrient density without upsetting their natural balance of constituents, offering the highest potency and effectiveness.

Our Mission

Regenerating Vitality in Alliance with Mother Nature

At Kokora, we seek to regenerate the vitality within by forging an alliance with nature, the source of nourishment for all life.

Our journey begins on our Regenerative Organic Certified farm in Costa Rica’s Enchanted Valley, where we embrace cultivation practices that honor the land while imbuing our herbs with vibrant activity. From this starting point, our work ripples outward, enhancing the ecosystems around our farm, uplifting the communities we touch, and harmonizing the health of our customers.

Every step of the Kokora process — from soil management, seed selection, cultivation, and harvest, to drying, extraction, concentration, and production — supports the awakening of nature’s full potential.

Regenerative Principles of Nature

Rest, Restore, Revitalize

Upholding the principles of nature that guide and govern.

Every living thing, from the smallest cell to the largest ecosystem, is capable of regeneration – of renewing that which has been depleted or degraded. Of renewing that which has been depleted or degraded. To restore wholeness, simply follow the regenerative principles of nature. First, rest. Next, restore. And finally, revitalize.

Rest

IN NATURE: Resilience in nature flows from a balance of rest and activity, stillness and dynamism. We see this in the changing of night and day, the shifting of the seasons, and the rhythms of our physiology. Rest is a building block of life; only from deep rest can dynamic growth emerge.

ON THE FARM: In regenerative farming, healing the soil begins with rest. Soil that's been over-farmed and chemically treated must be given time to recuperate and recover from these destructive human interventions.

Restore

IN NATURE: In nature, extremes such as severe weather, wildfires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions give way to cycles of restoration, where ecosystems repair and revitalize. This natural process of renewal is mirrored in human physiology following illness, injury, or stress, when the body restores balance to our internal landscape.

ON THE FARM: After a period of rest, regenerative farming rebuilds depleted soil through aeration, cover cropping, crop rotation, and the addition of organic matter. These steps restore soil structure, microbe populations, mycelia networks, and carbon to their natural glory.

Revitalize

IN NATURE: Revitalization in nature flows from rest and restoration, as seen in the flourishing of restored coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, the return of wildlife to the regenerated wetlands of the Florida Everglades, and the unbounded flow of vital energy in the human body when well cared for. In the revitalization stage, adaptation leads to resilience, and resilience leads to thriving.

ON THE FARM: Once the soil is restored, nutrients and energy reach the plant roots, and the soil-food web becomes dynamically alive again. This revitalization gives rise to plants with increased nutrient density, greater stress resilience, and improved carbon sequestration.

Our Visionary

Meet Ric Scalzo

My journey started more than 40 years ago with an energy that I felt in both heart and mind; I was compelled to the world of healing herbs by a force that I could not deny. This calling led me through years of formal study in Naturopathic medicine, herbal medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and iris and pulse diagnosis.

In the 1980s, I led a thriving practice in a medical clinic where I guided more than 10,000 patients in the use of herbs and natural methods to regain their health and vitality. It was here that I learned the art of formulating herbs using the regenerative principles of nature: rest, restore, and revitalize.

Buoyed by my success applying these formulaic principles in practice, I founded Gaia Herbs in 1987 and was honored to guide many people on their wellness journey over the next 30 years. When I sold Gaia in 2019, I knew my mission was not yet complete.

The dream of Kokora began in 2022, driven by my desire to make an even deeper impact. I didn’t simply want to found another herb company. I wanted to advance pioneering herbal research, elevate the standards for herbal sourcing, and regenerate human and planetary health.

The first step was founding the Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Medicine at the Sonoran University of Health Sciences, where we conduct extensive research to uncover the mechanisms by which herbs impact human health using in-vitro models.

At the same time, we began cultivating regeneratively grown herbs on our pristine 100-acre farm in Costa Rica. Today, the farm is not only certified Regenerative Organic and Fair Trade, but is also the first medicinal herb farm to achieve Gold Status Regenerative Organic Alliance certification.

Kokora’s vision is coming to life as we launch our first line of products, featuring Regenerative Organic herbs, and our uniquely innovative concentration process.

I invite you to begin the journey with Kokora to a Life Regenerated, and experience the profound impact of Regenerative Organic practices on our soil, our bodies, and our environment.

Ric Scalzo,
Founder & CEO

Learn more about Ric

Our Team

Meet The Executive Team

Ric Scalzo

Founder & CEO

As the founder and CEO, Ric is driven by a vision to build a company that operates in alignment w...

As the founder and CEO, Ric is driven by a vision to build a company that operates in alignment with nature, creating ripple effects that benefit people, plants, and the planet. His commitment is not just to growth but to fostering transformations. For Ric, every decision is an opportunity to “do it right” and amplify the positive impact of Kokora.

Favorite regenerative life practice:

Traveling to wellness destinations with close friends, finding moments of awe and laughter to celebrate the joy in life’s simplest connections.

Cindy Schwenk

VP of Sales

Cindy is humbled to be on the ground floor of a new company that is going to change the face of t...

Cindy is humbled to be on the ground floor of a new company that is going to change the face of the natural products industry. As the VP of Sales, being able to help create and inspire a team of people that are working together and are equally passionate about our company's foundational message while spreading the word about living a regenerative life keeps me inspired daily.

Favorite regenerative life practices:

Self focus, self love, living a nurturing lifestyle and of course, wine with friends!

Jeffrey Burke

Director of Education

If you were to ask Jeffrey about his heartfelt passion in the Natural Products industry, he would...

If you were to ask Jeffrey about his heartfelt passion in the Natural Products industry, he would say that he has been, is now, and will always be an educator, because he believes that education is the foundation for everything we have learned so far, and for everything we will continue to learn in the future. As the Director of Education, Jeffrey shares the most up to date information with the public, keeping them informed, allowing them the best chance at a healthier life. Jeff will tell you to stay true to your passion, and make sure to prioritize your mental health and well being, while living a nurturing, healthy, and passionate existence.

Favorite regenerative life practices:

Prioritizing holistic choices for a healthy mind and body balance, while having a strong focus on renewal and restoration of the environment.

Etson Brandenburg

Chief Financial Officer

Etson has worked in the supplement industry for over 20 years and feels incredibly fortunate to c...

Etson has worked in the supplement industry for over 20 years and feels incredibly fortunate to contribute his expertise as CFO to Kokora. He is passionate about helping the company produce products that support people’s health in a truly holistic way. Kokora’s mission, which Etson fully embraces, is to create the best products from nature’s ingredients with a commitment to doing no harm to people or the planet.

Favorite regenerative life practices:

Mindful yardwork and planting flowers, hiking, walking and cycling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Jesse Salazar

Sales & Operations Manager

As the Sales Operations Manager for Kokora, Jesse Salazar is deeply grateful to be part of a team...

As the Sales Operations Manager for Kokora, Jesse Salazar is deeply grateful to be part of a team all working toward the establishment of a holistically growing enterprise, focused on the deep integration of the eternal upward spiral and the finite moments of the mundane. He finds inspiration in the vision of harmonic symphony that regenerative practices offer, whether those practices be utilized in the natural process of farming or in the more abstract areas of personal and professional growth. He believes that the way to bring this harmonic symphony to his role in sales operations is through integrity, vision, and moral clarity. All of which are characteristics that are reflected in Kokora and its regenerative practices.

Favorite regenerative life practices:

Deep reading, deep conversation, and time with family.

Emily Desantis

Corporate Accountant

Emily seeks to dwell in the unforced rhythms of life that she finds in the beauty, truth, and goo...

Emily seeks to dwell in the unforced rhythms of life that she finds in the beauty, truth, and goodness that surrounds her. As the Corporate Accountant, she desires to bring that same pace while using fiscal soundness and structure, demonstrating that it is possible to align the practicality of finance to the values of a regenerative lifestyle, ultimately nurturing people as well as business.

Favorite regenerative life practices:

Slowing down in life to enjoy the beauty of small moments while sharing life with friends and family in the quiet and peaceful spaces, especially her porch and gardens.

Tista Wicklow

Executive Assistant

Tista draws her deepest inspiration from nature, finding strength and resilience in the quiet pre...

Tista draws her deepest inspiration from nature, finding strength and resilience in the quiet presence of the forests and the balance of natural rhythms. She believes passionately in the responsibility we all share to advocate for regenerative practices that create a healthier planet and stronger communities. As Executive Assistant, Tista supports the team in every facet of the business, ensuring that each step taken contributes to the broader mission.

Favorite regenerative life practices:

Forest bathing—moving mindfully through the trees to absorb the sights, sounds, and scents of the woods—and sharing belly laughs with family and friends.