Growing up in the agricultural mecca of California's Central Valley, there was no way around developing a love of food in its most natural state. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from San Diego State University, Erin Olivari moved East to New York City. It was there that she realized her true passion for diet, nutrition, and food culture. She then received a Master's degree in Food Studies from New York University. During her studies, she realized the importance of a plant-based diet for the health of our bodies and our planet. In 2015, Erin moved to Hawaiʻi with her husband and started working on cheese alternatives using a variety of tree nuts. She started The Vegan Cheese Shoppe in 2016 with the mission of creating satisfying and sustainable vegan cheese while supporting the local economy. Using locally grown macadamia nuts to create delicious vegan cheese has been a dream come true.