FreshJar

FreshJar is a mobile + web app that helps home cooks and small food businesses track spice freshness and potency over time. You log a spice once (photo + purchase/open date + brand), then the app estimates a realistic “flavor half-life” based on form (whole vs ground), storage conditions, and typical volatility. It sends reminders to replace only what’s likely degraded, not what’s merely old. The app also suggests the cheapest replacement path (refill bags, local bulk bins, or online) and prevents duplicate buying with a simple pantry view. This is not a recipe app; it’s a quality-control and waste-reduction tool. An optional AI feature reads labels from photos, normalizes names (e.g., “Kashmiri chili”), and flags common mislabels or confusing duplicates (paprika types, chili powders).