Catch a flight at LaGuardia Airport and you’ll find Plantaizin plantain chips among the many snack options for sale. Not only does each small bag pack a flavorful vegan and gluten-free bite, but it also tells the story of a family-run business fueled by personal health journeys and a celebration of Caribbean heritage.
Milton Dorceus, who founded the business with his sister, Kellyne Fonrose, and brother-in-law, Kervens Fonrose, said the business started as a conversation toward the end of 2021. Kervens had lost 150 pounds after adopting a plant-based diet, inspiring the three to create a brand that brought new, bold energy to plantains, a staple food in Haitian cuisine they grew up eating.
“Better for you doesn’t have to be boring,” Doreus said.
It was right after that conversation, in December 2021, when Plantaizin first connected with the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech (CoE). They didn’t yet have a company name or logo, but were already working toward their mission. CoE Business Development Specialist Derek Simmonds connected them with SCORE New York City, which provides no-cost business mentorship to entrepreneurs. The CoE also helped answer questions about financing, sales, supply chain logistics and other elements critical for growing a small business, Dorceus said. It was at a CoE-hosted event in 2023 where Dorceus connected with Bison Bag, a Western New York-based food packaging manufacturer that now supplies the packaging for Plantaizin’s snacks.
It was also through the CoE that Plantaizin exhibited at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show. The three founders joined nine other companies in the CoE’s incubator at the three-day trade show, where they served samples of their two varieties of plantain chips – original sea salt and seasoned mix – and connected with prospective buyers and fellow entrepreneurs.
Dorceus said he met with representatives from the e-commerce giant QVC, media outlets like Men’s Health and the food service giant Sodexo at the Summer Fancy Food Show, which represents Plantaizin’s target market of food service, institutional buyers and corporate partners, a market driven by Plantaizin’s single-serve packaging and flavor offerings that differ from typical plantain chips.
In addition to LaGuardia Airport, Plantaizin’s products are now sold at Harvard University – Dorceus’ alma mater – the employee pantry at DraftKings’ Boston headquarters and several natural foods stores and other retail outlets.
Plantaizin recently finalized a new production run and aims to break past the six-figure sales mark by 2027, with plans to expand into airports, hotels, and additional corporate clients. Dorceus said the company is already in discussions to stock Plantaizin at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport and plans to expand into additional colleges and universities.
As the business grows, so do their family bonds. Dorceus credits their shared faith for keeping them grounded and their mission to “share love through the brand” for keeping them going.
“We put the brand beyond us as individuals,” Dorceus said. “We’re all coming together and understanding why we’re doing this.”
Jacob Pucci is the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech.
