Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Brkich. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Elizabeth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Heavens to Betsy, an award-winning family-owned specialty preserves company in Winter Park, Florida, recently celebrated its tenth anniversary of “spreading the love”. Founded in the fourth quarter of 2011, Heavens to Betsy looks back over the past ten years and has many more plans for its eleventh year of operations.
“Heavens to Betsy is truly a labor of love,” says Betsy Brkich, founder of Heavens to Betsy. “It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to produce a local, farm to table product in small batches, the community embraces.”
Heavens to Betsy’s specialties are Preserves and spreads. Whenever possible, the company uses field-ripened produce direct from growers in the belief that “farm to table” results in the most flavorful products. The company’s preserves use a fraction of the sugar found in most commercially prepared preserves. While the health benefits of less dietary sugar have been well documented, the company has a different reason—taste. Betsy explains that reducing the sugar by half leaves room for 33 percent more fruit per serving, and some of her products are 85 percent fruit. These preserves can be eaten straight from the jar – by the spoonful!
Out of over 300 participating vendors at the Orlando Lake Eola Fiesta in the Park, Heavens to Betsy won the folk art category Favorite Flavors Award. “Our award-winning preserves are the perfect way to start your day. They make great gifts, and are especially popular for customized wedding favors and corporate events,” says Betsy.
Traditional favorites include Blueberry, Peach, Strawberry and Triple Berry. Specialized products, including Blueberry Grenache, Blackberry Vanilla Bourbon, Strawberry Champagne, Vanilla Plum, Pear Vanilla Riesling, and Peach Bourbon Cinnamon. These artisanal small-batch preserves complement appetizers, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, game and desserts. Not to mention, toast, English muffins, pancakes, yogurt parfaits and waffles!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
In collaboration with the award-wining chefs at Hamilton’s Kitchen, (in the Alfond Inn, Winter Park) we have been able to create some very interesting jams and chutneys for specialty dishes on the rotating seasonal menus including, Pear Rhubarb Chutney and Un-Ripe Green Strawberry Preserves, among others.
“One of the most exciting things I get to do in the kitchen is test out new recipe ideas,” says Betsy. “For example, years ago I created an orange crush marmalade, which in addition to spreading on an English muffin in the morning, is fantastic when used as a glaze on a whole roasted chicken or stirred into a whiskey sour. I also developed two tomato-based jams, delicious on any kind of grilled meats, such as hamburgers, grilled Italian sausage, chicken, wild game, and panini’s. Chipotle Tomato Jam and Sweet Heirloom Tomato Jam have become two of our best-sellers.”
Heavens to Betsy recently teamed up with Jim Beam, and created two popular jams, incorporating Maker’s Mark: Peach Bourbon Cinnamon and Blackberry Vanilla Bourbon. Heavens to Betsy has enjoyed creating signature Cocktails with Maker’s Mark. We like to call it: “What’s Your Jam?”
Another facet of our business is the wedding industry. We thoroughly enjoy working with brides and grooms in creating the best locally produced wedding favors for them to give to their guest. Local Raw pure honey is a favorite wedding favor. We like to say the couples names and “Meant to Bee!” on the label. Another favorite is seasonal jam, with the couples names and the phrase: “Spread the Love”! Wedding favors may be ordered through our website, or through an upscale wedding invitation store: www.maureenhallinvitations.com.
I was an art major in college and bring my creativity into each and every jam flavor, as well as the product packaging. I team up with local paper and fabric company: Rifle Paper Co. for the colorful paper and fabric toppers for our jam jars.
I think I am most proud of the fact that a sous chef at a local resort took one taste of my jam and announced: “This jam is life changing!”
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Early on, we were challenged by other local food purveyors. Perhaps they felt threatened? We were able to stay true to our initial motivation and secured the proper licenses and certifications. Today, our longevity speaks to the fact that we are honest and true “makers”, interested in making a difference in our community by providing the best preserves we possibly can, using local ingredients, without any preservatives or artificial ingredients. Each and every one of our products is “All Natural”. Our start date is: 11/11/11. So, this November marks 11 years in the business of creating the best local preserves and spreads we can, using the freshest ingredients possible.
Have you ever had to pivot?
As a small business owner and founder, I am very proud of the fact that I am agile and able to pivot on a regular basis. When COVID-19 first emerged, weddings were postponed or cancelled right and left. My wedding jam and honey favor business evaporated. Thankfully, having multiple revenue tracks, I was able to focus on the bulk jam business, supplying gallon jars of jam to resorts and restaurants that were able to remain open in Florida. Now, the wedding industry is back in full force and I am busier than ever with the backlog of weddings that were re-scheduled.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heavenstobetsywp.com
- Instagram: @heavens2betsywp
- Facebook: Heavens to Betsy Gourmet Preserves and Spreads
- Twitter: @heavens2betsywp
- Youtube: Heavens to Betsy
Image Credits
Melanie Brkich Photography