Miyoko Schinner
Miyoko Schinner (née Nishimoto) is an American chef, cookbook author, animal sanctuary founder and owner of dairy-free cheese brand Miyoko's Creamery. She is a leading advocate for the right of vegan food products to use traditional meat and dairy terms on their labels. Early life and education. Schinner was born Takano Miyoko in a village outside Yokohama, Japan. At age seven, she moved with her mother to the United States. She graduated from St. John's College in Maryland. Career. Schinner transitioned to eating vegan in the mid-1980s. During the 1990s, she taught vegan cooking classes , and in 1991 The Book Publishing Company published her first vegan cookbook "The Now and Zen Epicure". In 1994, she opened the vegan restaurant "Now and Zen" in San Francisco, which eventually expanded into a natural food company of the same name, which was sold in 2003. Schinner has launched a number of vegan brands, such as UnTurkey, which she exhibited at the 1995 Natural Products Expo alongside competitor Tofurky, and Hip Whip. Book Publishing Company published her "Artisan Vegan Cheese" cookbook in 2012. That same year she began co-hosting PBS cooking show Vegan Mashup, with Toni Fiore and  Terry Hope Romero. In 2014, Schinner launched vegan cheese company Miyoko's Kitchen, later renaming it Miyoko's Creamery. Tofurky founder Seth Tibbott was the company's first investor. In 2016, the Specialty Food Association reported the company had "grown 300% year over year," and "they recently signed on to a new 28,000+ square-foot headquarters in Petaluma." In 2015, Ten Speed Press published Schinner's "The Homemade Vegan Pantry". In 2019, the cookbook was named one of the Best Vegan Cookbooks by "Good Housekeeping" magazine. In 2015, Schinner founded the nonprofit Rancho Compasion farmed animal sanctuary in Nicasio , California. In 2018, Melaina Juntti of New Hope Network described Schinner as a "vegan rock star". Schinner was among 28 women featured in PopSugar's "28 Women Changing the World Right This Second" list, a project backed by UN Women. In 2021, Schinner was included in the inaugural "Forbes 50 Over 50" list. Schinner has been involved in legal challenges over product laws that regulate vegan food labeling, with Schinner arguing the laws violate free speech. Personal life. Schinner is married to San Francisco attorney Michael Schinner. She has three adult children, Aki Chambers, basketball player; Sera, and Cammy, the  latter of whom often assists her mother with her video shoots.