It all started with a girl named Kate

Kate Farms began with a little girl named Kate Laver, who couldn’t tolerate standard tube feeding formulas. Her parents, Richard and Michelle, believed she deserved better—so they created a shake made with organic, plant-based ingredients and none of the common allergens or artificial colors, sweeteners or flavors found in traditional formulas. Originally made for Kate’s health needs, Kate Farms has now nourished over half a million lives.

The lightbulb moment

When Richard and Michelle saw the ingredients in Kate’s prescribed formula—water, sugar, corn syrup, and dairy proteins—they asked a simple question: why are the most vulnerable people being given the least nourishing food? With the help of a vegan chef and more than 70 tries in a home blender, they developed a better formula. When Kate finally tried the version that worked, her energy returned, her skin brightened, and for the first time, her family could share a mealtime shake together.

The mission takes root

Word spread, and soon others began asking for the formula. What started as one family's solution became a clear call to raise the standard for medical nutrition. Kate Farms was born to serve anyone with health needs—especially those left behind by traditional options.

Brett and Ginger join the mission

In 2015, Brett Matthews and Ginger Salazar joined Kate Farms after their own son’s health journey showed them how critical nutrition could be to healing. They brought personal conviction and the investment needed to grow the company without compromising its heart. Brett soon became Chairman and CEO to build a team who care about helping people with health conditions and to help guide Kate Farms into its next chapter: always grounded in its original purpose.

Kate Farms today

Kate Farms now nourishes more than half a million people across the U.S. Our plant-based, clinically developed shakes and formulas are used in over 1,450 hospitals, trusted by healthcare providers, and with ongoing clinical research we invest in and lead ourselves.

We’ve worked to make our nutrition more accessible—expanding coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, WIC, private insurance, HSA/FSA, and SNAP. Our products are available in hospitals, homecare, and online at katefarms.com and Amazon, as well as through our growing retail presence.

We offer options for kids and adults with GI conditions, food allergies, diabetes, or those in need of weight gain, sole-source nutrition, or overall nourishment. Every formula is USDA Organic, non-GMO, and free from dairy, soy, gluten, corn syrup, common allergens, and artificial flavors, sweeteners, and colors—because good nutrition should never require a compromise.

Our purpose remains clear

Our vision is to make good nutrition essential to healthcare and accessible to all. Every bottle we make is rooted in clinical purpose, guided by compassion, and designed to support people at every stage of life and health.

Each year, we celebrate Kate’s birthday—the girl who started it all, now 18 and still thriving on the formula that bears her name.