Heray Spice

Mohammad Salehi, Heray Spice

Having grown up in a farming family in western Afghanistan, Mohammad Salehi’s choice to sell Afghani saffron and other spices was a natural one. However, his journey to get to this point may surprise you.

After graduating high school in Afghanistan, he embarked on a career as a cultural advisor for the United Nations in 2009. In 2013, he decided to immigrate to Chicago where he founded Heray Spice. Among many other accomplishments, he was granted the honor of being a member of the inaugural Eater New Guard class—an award given to culinary workers who make positive contributions to their communities.