We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Flo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Flo below.

Alright, Flo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Mission: Elevating every bite: Farm Girl Edibles delivers extraordinary, small-batch flavor with jams, jellies, and our unique Crackel the ‘un-brittle,’ sparking culinary creativity.

Growing up on a small farm, the endless rows of crops never quite captivated me. In fact, I’d rather have been in summer school – learning felt much easier in my opinion. So, the kitchen became my preferred escape. Back then, before microwaves buzzed and air fryers hummed, cooking was a deliberate, hands-on craft. If there was an opportunity to chop, stir, or simply boil water for tea, I was the first to volunteer.

My true culinary awakening, however, arrived with a bumper crop of blackberries. Faced with such an abundance, I dove headfirst into the world of preserving. With just the instructions on a pectin package, I taught myself to transform those juicy berries into rich jams, glistening jellies, and comforting pies. The vibrant, unforgettable flavor of that truly homemade goodness left an indelible mark on my memory.

Years later, that cherished memory became my muse. I was at a fundraiser with my own children when we spotted a vendor proudly displaying “homemade” jam. Excitedly, I asked for a sample, anticipating that familiar burst of fresh fruit and pure sweetness. But one taste was all it took – it sadly just didn’t measure up. It lacked the depth and essence of what I remembered homemade tasting like. That moment sparked something profound: people deserved to know what real homemade flavor was all about.

What began as a passionate hobby soon kicked into high gear, especially after my divorce. Creating these delicious preserves became my anchor during a period of rebuilding. Then, during the challenging days of the pandemic, I was fortunate enough to spend precious time caring for my mom before she passed. This period also presented an unexpected opportunity: I discovered a local co-packer who shared my vision and could produce our products in the small batches essential to maintaining that cherished artisan flavor.

Every product from Farm Girl Edibles is a testament to that journey. We pride ourselves on crafting items that are not only extraordinary in flavor but also gluten- and dairy-free, ensuring everyone can enjoy them. For me, these aren’t just spreads for toast or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Our jams and jellies are incredibly versatile – think bright glazes for roasted meats, vegetables, and fruits, zesty salad dressings, or even unique flavorings for beverages and desserts. The culinary possibilities truly are endless, and I love sharing that inspiration. That’s why you’ll find an eCookbook or a FREE recipe idea sheet available right on our website, because at Farm Girl Edibles, we’re dedicated to elevating every bite and sparking your own culinary creativity.

Flo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Thank you for this opportunity to share the story of Farm Girl Edibles! It’s a journey deeply rooted in my past and driven by a passion for authentic flavor.

My story begins on a small farm right here in California, where I was born and raised. As a child, I dreaded summers – field work never captivated me, and honestly, as I mentioned, I’d rather have been in summer school! My true refuge, and later, my discovered passion, was always the kitchen. Back then, cooking was a deliberate, hands-on craft, long before fancy gadgets, a pot and the stove or a pan and the oven was the extent of our technology. After college and getting married, my family and I moved up and down this beautiful state, eventually returning to my cherished hometown, which now serves as the home base for Farm Girl Edibles.

Now a proud mom of two successful adult kids, it was actually an experience with them that truly sparked Farm Girl Edibles. As youngsters, they were with me at a school fundraiser, eagerly trying a vendor’s “homemade” jam. One taste, however, brought back a disappointing memory: it simply didn’t taste like the true homemade goodness I remembered. That moment ignited a core belief: people deserved to know what real homemade flavor was all about. This became my mission, starting as a passionate hobby and truly kicking into gear after my divorce.

The journey from passionate hobby to a viable business is never a straight shot. I’m incredibly grateful to have found a local co-packer who understood my vision and could handle smaller production runs, unlike the industrial-scale packers I initially found in Los Angeles or Orange County. Finding this partner truly allowed Farm Girl Edibles to take root as a legitimate business, ensuring we could maintain that cherished artisan quality with every batch.

Our Products & What We Offer
At Farm Girl Edibles, we specialize in six extraordinary, small-batch flavored jams and jellies. But what truly sets us apart is our unique confection: Crackel – the un-brittle. It’s a light, airy peanut brittle that defies expectations, offering a delicate crunch without the typical tooth-shattering hardness. We even have a disclaimer: customer testimonies often describe it as “addictive!” All of our products are proudly gluten- and dairy-free, ensuring that more people can enjoy our gourmet flavors.

Beyond the jars and bags, we’re dedicated to inspiring culinary creativity. That’s why I’ve also created an eCookbook and offer a FREE recipe idea sheet available right on our website.

Problems We Solve & What Sets Us Apart
We solve the problem of disappointing “homemade” taste. In a market flooded with mass-produced options, we deliver on the promise of genuine, superior flavor that truly feels and tastes homemade. We set ourselves apart in several key ways:

Uncompromising Flavor: Our absolute priority is taste. We focus on specialty flavors, ensuring every bite is extraordinary.
Artisan Small-Batches: Unlike commercial products, our small-batch production allows for meticulous attention to detail and consistent, high-quality results. This is how we preserve that true artisan flavor.
Unique Offering: Crackel ‘the un-brittle’ is a completely unique product that delights with its distinctive, airy texture.
Culinary Versatility: We challenge the idea that jams and jellies are just for toast. Our products are incredibly versatile – they can be used as bright glazes for roasted meats, vegetables, and fruits; zesty salad dressings; unique flavorings for beverages; and exquisite additions to desserts. We empower our clients to explore endless culinary possibilities, moving beyond the breakfast table.
Dietary Inclusivity: Being entirely gluten- and dairy-free means our delicious products can be enjoyed by a wider audience without compromise.
Authenticity: My personal story and passion are woven into every jar. This isn’t just a business; it’s a mission to share truly exceptional, handcrafted flavor.
What I’m Most Proud Of & What I Want You to Know
I am most proud of genuinely delivering on the promise of extraordinary flavor and the true taste of “homemade.” It brings me immense joy to hear how our customers are using our products in creative ways, inspired by our recipes or their own imagination. I’m incredibly proud of the unique success and appeal of Crackel, and how we’ve built a brand that prioritizes quality and taste above all else. Building this business from a personal passion and seeing it resonate with people who appreciate authentic, high-quality food is incredibly rewarding.

The main thing I want you to know about Farm Girl Edibles is that we are here to elevate every bite. We are about far more than just spreads; we are about sparking your culinary creativity and transforming everyday meals into extraordinary culinary moments. Our products are crafted with immense care in small batches, guaranteeing superior, authentic flavor that you won’t find anywhere else. Remember, all our delicious offerings are gluten- and dairy-free, and their versatility is endless!

Today, Farm Girl Edibles reaches customers primarily through our eCommerce platform, ensuring our unique flavors can be shipped directly to your door. For those closer to home, you can also find our products in select local stores right here in the San Luis Obispo area, where our community truly embraces local artisan goods. We invite you to explore our website for recipes and ideas – let Farm Girl Edibles inspire your next culinary adventure!

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

When it comes to Ecommerce my website remains the main hub for Farm Girl Edibles, we strategically leverage other platforms for community engagement and traffic generation. A key part of this strategy involves Facebook groups.

I actively participate in, and even host, shopping groups where we feature other small businesses alongside Farm Girl Edibles. This has been an incredibly powerful tool for us because it allows us to:

Connect Authentically: We engage directly with potential customers in a more personal, less transactional way, building genuine relationships.
Build Trust & Community: Hosting a group fosters a supportive environment, positioning Farm Girl Edibles as a trusted resource within the community, not just a seller.
Drive Targeted Traffic: By sharing product highlights, recipes, and special offers within these engaged groups, we effectively drive interested traffic directly to our website. It’s a fantastic way to introduce our unique flavors and culinary philosophy to an audience already looking for high-quality, small-business goods.
We even had a popular weekly newsletter where we’d feature another small business that had used Farm Girl Edibles, including their testimony. Life, however, sometimes brings unexpected turns; my life partner, Bob Donnell, passed away, and that initiative had to be put on hold. It’s definitely something we’re eager to bring back soon!

Ultimately, this blended approach allows us to maintain our brand integrity and direct customer relationships while effectively reaching new audiences through strategic community involvement.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey with Farm Girl Edibles has certainly been shaped by resilience, much like the process of turning raw fruit into something extraordinary. When I think about what truly illustrates that, a few key moments come to mind.

The first significant challenge was transforming a passionate hobby into a viable business, especially during a time of personal rebuilding after my divorce. It wasn’t just about making great products; it was about navigating the complexities of scaling up, finding reliable partners, and truly believing in my ability to turn a love for flavor into a livelihood. There were countless late nights, moments of self-doubt, and logistical puzzles, but my unwavering belief in that “real homemade flavor” kept me pushing forward. Finding our co-packer, who truly aligned with our small-batch artisan philosophy during the chaos of the pandemic, was another testament to persistence – a moment of pure relief and a huge step in getting our products out into the marketplace.

More recently, however, my resilience was tested in the most profound way. Just six months ago, my beloved life partner, Bob Donnell, passed away. The grief was, and is, immense. For a time, it felt like everything else had to pause; even our weekly newsletter, where we celebrated other small businesses, had to take a backseat. Navigating that level of personal loss while still tending to a growing business truly demanded every ounce of strength I had.

What I’ve learned through all these experiences – from the farm fields of my youth to unexpected personal tragedies – is the incredible power of finding purpose and connection, even in the most difficult times. While Farm Girl Edibles continues to be my passion for bringing extraordinary flavor and culinary joy to homes, this personal healing journey through grief has also opened me to another path. It has given me the unique perspective and empathy to help others navigate their own paths through loss. This is an emerging, separate venture I’m calling “Growing with Flo to Your Next Level,” where I aim to share the wisdom gained from life’s profound challenges, guided by God, to help others find their own resilience and path forward.

For me, resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about growing through experiences and finding new ways to connect and contribute. Whether it’s through the joyful flavors of Farm Girl Edibles or by offering guidance through difficult life transitions, my core drive remains the same: to make a meaningful, positive impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://farmgirledibles.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmgirledibles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarmGirlEdibles
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flo-mina-263529241
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits

Photo Credit: Debra Kay Photography, Kerry Evans, Flo Mina