Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathanael Nunemaker.
Hi Nathanael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started Farmer Nate’s in 2020 during peak lockdown. With all my free time, I decided to grow my own food in my small urban backyard. The peppers I planted thrived, leaving me with an abundance of jalapeños and habaneros that I didn’t know what to do with. To preserve them, I started making hot sauce. My friends and family loved it, so I kept refining the recipes while also building a brand, forming an LLC, and obtaining FDA certifications and manufacturing licenses.
We officially launched in November 2021. Today, our product is made in large volumes by a co-packer and is sold in over 1,000 stores nationwide, as well as online through our website and Amazon. It’s been an incredible journey, building something from nothing!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been struggle after struggle, but eventually, you learn that challenges aren’t going away—you just have to find a way to move forward. I’ve faced the rejection of great opportunities and struggled with financing the business, but I try to take the good with the bad. When you persevere, the wins feel that much sweeter.
I’m very fortunate to have received a lot of support, and that’s what keeps me motivated to find solutions to every new problem that comes my way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Farmer Nate’s Sauce?
Farmer Nate’s started as a hot sauce company but it has since expanded into other condiments and rubs.
What sets us apart is our ability to create a personal connection with each customer. I once received an email from someone in another state who had been purchasing our products on Amazon. She shared how she and her grandfather sit on the front porch each evening with dinner and a bottle of our sauce, thanking me for being a small part of those special moments. That’s what we specialize in—fostering fellowship and connection through amazing flavor.
I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve built so far. It’s been amazing to start from scratch and have such a strong support system along the way.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Build relationships. You never know who you meet that you can be a resource to or that can be a resource to you. Surround yourself with like-minded people.
You won’t be great at everything. Sometimes you will need to bring in others to pick up where you lack.
Pricing:
- Covington Gold dust (taco seasoning) $8
- Ranch hand (ranch dip mix) $5
- Mild – hot – $10
- 1815 special reserve (a chickpea based hot sauce) $12
Contact Info:
- Website: farmernatessauce.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/farmernatessauce
- Facebook: Facebook.com/farmernatessauce
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/ACB8D0C1-2EE5-4944-9B44-E02FC958CED3?ingress=3
Image Credits
Jeremy Kramer Photo