We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Thera Snyder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Thera, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Ohi:yo Pepper Co stands out in the hot pepper world by offering freeze-dried hot pepper powders, which preserve the peppers’ intense flavor and natural heat without the need for additives or preservatives. Unlike many competitors who use traditional drying methods, freeze-drying locks in freshness, enhancing the depth of flavor. This process also creates a finer, more consistent texture that’s easy to incorporate into recipes. Our approach results in a product that maintains its potency for a longer shelf life. By focusing on quality and innovation, we bring a fresh take to the world of spicy condiments.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Growing up in the fast-paced life of the city, I’ve always felt drawn to the idea of wide-open spaces, working with the land and growing something from seed. Right before the pandemic began in 2020, my husband and I had an opportunity to move to family land in Zanesville, Ohio with the idea of farming. Being the chiliheads that we are and wanting to pivot from the 2018 Farm Bill, we decided to plant 1,500 hot pepper plants in the Spring of 2021. We knew from the beginning our core product would be freeze-dried hot pepper powders, but once August came we were drowning in peppers. I decided to reach out to a local farmers market to see if they had space for a new vendor. On a Thursday afternoon in the middle of August 2021 we harvested some fresh peppers, packed up the few products we had (freeze-dried powders, infused salts, and a few spicy dry rubs), and set up at the Healthy New Albany Farmers Market. Not sure what to expect in this brand new to us world, we were blown away by the experience. We were the hot new thing and folks were fascinated by our brand and our products. It was then that we knew we were really onto something. Since then we’ve grown to planting 3,000 plants and over 100 varieties. We have over 50 varieties of freeze-dried powders, infused salts, spicy dry rubs, hot honey from our own apiary, candied hot pepper nuts, and hot pepper jellies. In addition to our fiery products we sell plants in the spring and fresh peppers from summer-time to fall-time.

Moving to Ohio from Florida to pursue farming has been the adventure of a lifetime. Our intentions are spicy and our goals are to continue growing into this fiery fun world.

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

We have an eCommerce store found at www.ohiyopepperco.com. Having an online platform for hot peppers and our spicy products allows us to share our passion for heat with a wide audience, far beyond the local farmers’ markets. The digital space offers the perfect platform to reach spice enthusiasts from all corners of the world, making it easier for them to discover unique products like freeze-dried hot pepper powders. Through our online store, I can educate our customers about the flavor profiles of different peppers and offer creative uses for them in their cooking. It also provides the flexibility to offer limited-edition batches and new creations, giving customers a reason to keep coming back. In a world where convenience is key, www.ohiyopepperco.com ensures that my products are always accessible, anytime and anywhere. This direct-to-consumer approach helps me build a stronger relationship with my customers while growing my brand organically.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I believe our farmers markets have been the best source of new customers for us. In addition to being in the best farmers market in the United States, according to USA Today, Worthington Farmers Market, we vend at the Dublin Market at Bridge Park and Clintonville Farmers Market in Columbus, Ohio. Thousands of market goers walk through each of these markets every Saturday throughout the season. We have a fantastic loyal customer base as well as meeting fresh faces each weekend. Organic growth and word of mouth keeps us going and growing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ohiyopepperco.com
• Instagram: ohiyopepperco
• Facebook: ohiyopepperco
• Linkedin: Thera Snyder

Image Credits

Laura Grace Photography