"My parents were born in eastern North Carolina and grew up as sharecroppers. When they tell us about their childhood, it seems like they had a life filled with love. Even though they were working in less than "fair" situations and working on the farm from sun up to sun down, they always seemed to have love. This love often graced the tables. The table was their oasis. It was their happy place. A place where family and friends could get together and be with each other. For them, it was much more than their daily bread. Food was bonding. It was celebratory. It connected them to each other and to their community. What sprang forth from a simple meal was hope and possibility. A belief that everything was going to be alright.

Fast forward many years later, and Baste is born as an expression of that bonding force that a great meal with loved ones brings. My brother Reggie and I grew up in a different generation, but those moments accented our life. Whether Sunday after church, a family reunion, or just dinner, good food was always mixed with good people and yielded good times. Hope and possibility sprang forth. So we decided to put that in a bottle to give people a little bit of that joy that we felt when we gathered together and had a good meal. When we made community happen. It is our hope that many people will gather around the table and remember what matters most: family, friends, and community. And yes, Baste will be there to make the meal delightfully flavorful and memorable."
- Greg Johnson