When Palwasha Raqib came to the United States as a refugee from Afghanistan in the late 1980s, she found comfort in the fragrant spices of her mother’s cooking. By lovingly preparing traditional dishes for her six daughters, Palwasha’s mother taught them that food is more than nourishment; it’s a reflection of love, history, and heritage. Later, during her career as a lawyer, Palwasha realized the potential of saffron cultivation to renew hope and spark opportunity in her homeland. From this grew Palwasha Spice, her woman-owned spice business devoted to offering ordinary Afghans an avenue to support their families through saffron production and clean agriculture. Affectionately known as the “Saffron Queen of New York City,” Palwasha is a passionate advocate for ethical spice production in Afghanistan.