Vegandale NYC 2024 celebrates ‘world vegan domination’ at Citi Field
Vegandale NYC 2024 recently marked another celebration of veganism outside Citi Field in Queens. NYC’s festival stop starred nearly 200 food and non-food vendors, as well as art and musical entertainment. Vegandale’s number one hype guy, Scott “Burnhard” Bernard, along with their official DJ, kept the crowd’s energy high. Aside from very long lines and some cranky attendees, the event attracted hundreds of visitors.
The vegan experience, started in 2015 by Hellenic Vincent De Paul, captivated people like Will Perrymon. Traveling across the country from Los Angeles, Perrymon witnessed the evolution of the festival, and believes Randall’s Island, last year’s location, was a better setting instead of a concrete parking lot. Perrymon advocates for tasty vegan food at his company, Lettuce Feast. The sauce used on their “Hot Honey ‘Chicken’ Sandwich” conveys the importance of flavor. Perrymon has been a vendor at Vegandale since 2018. “We noticed in 2017 there was a lack of vegan food in L.A.,” said Perrymon. “We wanted to provide an option to the community that’s quality — a lot of the stuff previously out there was pretty bad.”
Perrymon’s motto is “good food makes people happy.” “It’s an emotional feeling when you have good food,” said Perrymon. He described Lettuce Feast’s food as “nostalgic” for people who have enjoyed eating their sandwiches over the past five years. On-site revenue was a plus for Perrymon’s brand, especially with their double-fried patties and fried mushroom sandwiches.
Mushrooms are used as protein and meat substitutes for plenty of vegans. However, others love “meat-like” textures without using mushrooms. Jaime Randle, owner of Coco Bred, found a creative way to make “lobster” rolls using hearts of palm without sacrificing yummy seasonings. “When I think of vegan food, and when I have vegan food, people usually default to mushrooms and jackfruit,” said Randle. “I can’t do either of those — I must do something different.” Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Randle moved to the U.S. at two months old. “Coco Bred is definitely a mix of my birth country and New York, the place that raised me,” said Randle. Her Black woman-owned business, only four months old, will benefit from Vegandale with increased brand awareness, visibility, and name recognition.
Randle found out about Vegandale via word-of-mouth. “Everyone knows about Vegandale — it’s become so big,” said Randle. Her festival team included close friends and her young daughter. “Having my daughter here with me is incredible because what I want for her is to see that any dream she has is possible as long as you bust your butt to make it happen,” said Randle. While working hard and enjoying her first time as a vendor, Randle was also excited to visit her fellow vendors and network with other businesses. She personally shared with Amsterdam News readers to please, “Eat Coco Bred!”
Besides yummy food, vegan non-food businesses were on site, including Kultivated Hair Care. Established in 2021 by Gregory Shepherd, he created a Black-owned hair care line from a Black man’s perspective. Shepherd expressed that Black people deserve better hair care without chemicals and ingredients which may cause cancer. “I wanted to be different, I wanted to set standards, a diamond standard of hair care,” shared Shepherd. He thought the name “Kultivated,” purposely misspelled and inspired from his fraternity line, was perfect. “It was my mantra when I started my business,” said Shepherd. “I want people’s hair to grow and flourish, that’s also what ‘Kultivated’ means.” According to Shepherd, his products are 100% chemical free, and he adds healthy ingredients like vitamin E to all his oils. The ingredients in his shampoos, conditioners and other hair products are all visible on each front label.
Kultivated Hair Care also sells bonnets, edge wraps, and pillowcases. Shepherd voiced his happiness attending the festival for the first time. His sister and cousin were assisting him with sales and brand showcasing. “[Vegandale] is about exposure and customer retention,” said Shepherd. “I have the best products in the world and more people need to know about it.”
Vegandale attendee Gabrielle Hamilton, who has a shaved head, embraces her baldness. During their prolonged interaction and conversation on homemade oils, Shepherd said, “I would love for Gabrielle to use the hair oil infused with vitamin E. It will make her skin super smooth, super shiny — she’s going to love it.”
“I actually make my homemade oils, so everything that he has in this oil, I [already] use myself,” said Hamiliton. “I want someone to make it for me who is trusted and a Black beautiful human being — I’m absolutely going to be purchasing.”
Shepherd appeared very authentic and thoughtful with his products. “I’m thankful for this interview,” said Shepherd. “I’m proud to be a Black business owner.” Vegandale returns to NYC in September 2025.
For more information, please visit www.vegandalefest.com/newyork/ and www.kultivatedhaircare.com.
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