Our story
1978
Searching for the Fountain of Youth
Fresh out of high school in Toronto, Greg Doherty travels to Ecuador in search of a region where people are said to live well past one hundred. While he doesn't discover the fountain of youth, he encounters mountains of perfectly good bananas being thrown away due to a US price collapse that leaves Ecuadorian farmers struggling. This sparks an idea in Greg: to start a business that reduces food waste and improve farmers' livelihoods.
1979
A Close Call with the Peruvian Army
Greg returns to Toronto and builds a prototype dryer in his friend Mike's parent's basement. Later, he returns to Ecuador with his findings and partners with an Ecuadorian family who agree to build the factory on their farm. However, luck isn't on their side and Peru decides to invade Ecuador to reclaim some disputed territory. They flee to safety and Greg only manages to grab his personal belongings and the factory blueprints. Greg soon returns to Canada and pursues a different business altogether, but never completely forgets the fruit drying idea.
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1991 - 1992
Solar Gold Dried Fruit is Born
Thirteen years later, Mike asks Greg if anything ever became of his dried fruit venture. Greg says no, but they both feel the time is right for a fresh start. They form a partnership, and combine their resources to bring the project to life. They register Solar Gold Dried Fruit to wholesale tropical dried fruit, expanding beyond bananas to include mango, pineapple, melon, and papaya.
1993
A family affair
The business finds its humble beginnings operating out of Mike and Debbie's basement in East York. This intimate setting fosters a strong sense of teamwork and dedication, as family members come together to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.
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1994
Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs
Greg and Mike travel to Jamaica to set up a drying factory. After encountering challenges getting the desired quality, they pivot and successfully find a new supplier in Costa Rica.
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As the pair continues to navigate the complexities of setting up business, Greg is unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer.
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Nonetheless, the work goes on and they secure their first large sales to renowned Toronto retailers, including Noah's, Evergreen, Ambrosia, and Pusateri's.
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1995
The First Printed Label
Solar Gold designs and releases its first printed label, marking a significant milestone in its branding efforts.
1996
Honouring Greg's Legacy
Greg loses his courageous battle with cancer, leaving Mike and his wife Debbie deeply saddened by the loss of their friend and business partner.
Faced with thousands of dollars in unsold packaging and on the brink of giving up, Mike and Debbie receive a few phone calls for new orders. This reignites their determination to persevere and continue with the business.
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1999
Winning the Best New Food Product Award
Mike and Debbie receive the prestigious "Best New Food Product" award at the Canadian Fine Food Show, marking a significant achievement in their entrepreneurial journey.
1997 - 2002
Early Sales with Local Retailers
Solar Gold moves further into the retail market, securing initial sales in a number of stores that would eventually grow into significant health food store chains.
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2006
Solar Gold goes Carbon Neutral
Mike and Debbie achieve another milestone by offsetting CO2 emissions for all their business activities, officially becoming a carbon neutral company.
2006 - 2014
Solar Gold takes a Quick Chocolate Dip
Mike and Debbie experiment by introducing Piña Choclata and Banana Choclata—essentially pineapple and banana dipped in chocolate. It becomes clear that their customers are craving healthy snacks, so they decide to double down on all-naturals. In 2008, Solar Gold makes its debut in Healthy Planet stores, followed by Fiesta Farms in 2013. The brand continues to grow, entering the Quebec market in 2014 in Segal's, Montreal's oldest grocery store.
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2017
Golden Berries join the Solar Gold family
When Mike and Debbie tasted the unique sweet and sour profile of Golden Berries, they were blown away by the quality and taste. They thought their customers would love it too so they decided to introduce a new fruit to the snacking lineup.
2024
A fresh new look
Mike and his daughter Alison come together to tackle a package redesign for Solar Gold. They explore many design concepts, sharing both moments of inspiration and the occasional frustration that comes with creative father-daughter collaboration. Their commitment to honouring the brand's legacy shines through as they combine older elements with a fresh new look.
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