SALT LAKE CITY, September 2026. THRYV Institute and TC Alliance Foundation wrapped up an eleven-day run at the Utah State Fair this week, placing 2,558 free soil amendment kits into the hands of Utah gardeners and connecting with thousands of families about the future of nutrient-dense food.
Stationed in the Fairpark's Agriculture Building alongside a working bee colony and the fair's famous giant pumpkin contest, the THRYV booth drew a steady stream of backyard growers, small farmers, and curious families from September 10 through 20.
"Our mission is simple. We want to help families thrive. That starts in the soil, because
healthier soil grows more nutritious food, and more nutritious food builds healthier
families. Everything else we do grows out of that."
Aaron Peterson, THRYV Institute
Each kit treats roughly 200 square feet for a full season and works in four steps, beginning with a dry mineral blend containing calcium, fish hydrolysate, and 84 minerals spread across the soil, followed by beneficial microorganisms applied at planting and a foliar spray used through harvest. The minerals are drawn from ancient Lake Bonneville marine deposits and Great Salt Lake brine.
The result is soil that holds water better, a meaningful benefit under Utah's ongoing water restrictions, and produce with measurably higher nutritional density.
Every kit is donated, with nothing for sale at the booth.
For the ambassadors working the
Fair, the conversations were the memorable part.
"I loved talking with the people who took kits. They showed me pictures of their gardens and
told me how they share the food with neighbors and family. One gentleman told me he
loved the work we do and said, may Gaia bless your mission."
Kalene Schofield, Market Ambassador
The Fair marked the largest single event to date for a program that has now distributed more than
6,000 free soil kits across more than 20 farmers markets, fairs, and community events this season.
That includes markets from Payson north to Ogden along the Wasatch Front, as well as roughly 500 kits delivered to Native American community summits as part of TC Alliance Foundation's ongoing land restoration work with Indigenous nations.
Recipients are encouraged to register their kits at thryv.institute, which unlocks step-by-step application instructions and growing guidance. Registered growers are invited to share photos of their gardens through the season for a chance at monthly prizes, and fair goers who registered on site were entered into a daily giveaway.
Registration also connects growers to THRYV Institute's broader mission: helping everyday gardeners produce more nutritious food and, for those who want to go further, build a profitable farm or market garden. That pathway runs through THRYV Certification, an eight-week program covering soil health, crop planning, and the business of growing. Certified growers gain access to sales channels for their nutrient-dense produce, including farmers markets, CSA programs, and
partner juicing facilities.
The program continues at farmers markets across the Wasatch Front through October, with eight
events already scheduled for the month and indoor winter markets planned from November onward. A larger launch is planned for spring and summer 2027.
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To learn more about THRYV Certification, register a kit, or find upcoming events, visit thryv.institute.
Media contact: Codi Crystal · 970.417.2603 · codi.crys@gmail.com
