Many years ago I managed an upscale ice cream shop in Grandview. There I learned about the artisinal ethos. I learned to use the best ingredients possible and that the time and love you put into your work will be appreciated by your community.
Flash forward to now where I have added a few twists of my own. In my opinion it isn't enough to make something that is tasty. It has to be healthful as well. All recipes are conceived with nutrition in mind. Raw fruits and vegetables have tons of nutrients vs. cooked and pasteurized counterparts! My melon bar has over 50% vitamin A + C. I am very proud of that. 5 years ago I sold ice cream sandwiches and bomb pops, I didn't know any better back then. Those treats are not healthful and shouldn't be given to children in my opinion. I remember the final days of my ice cream selling time. I looked at all the products sold by distributors and the more ingredients I read the more frustrated I became; they are all junk even a lot that are promoted as being "healthy."
Regarding sugar, I don't want to use it. Is it a challenge to create flavors with out sugar? Yes, very much so. But I am adamant about offering treats with no sweetener, no sugar, no honey, no stevia etc. If it isn't sweet enough toss in a banana or some grapes or a fresh date. Whole foods are what our bodies are designed to flourish on. It is so hard to remember this with so many companies selling "food" that has all the nutrients processed out of them.
It takes maintaining an adequate supply of fruit and caring for it during it's ripening. Fruit is rarely sold ripe at the store or distributor. This is the reason why commercial companies don't offer fruit only bars; it would be so much more expensive to use ripe fruit vs toss in sugar or even worse high fructose corn syrup!
I am very grateful for the community support. I have been selling out almost everyday and it has been difficult to keep inventory in stock and ripe on time while keeping up with my "day job". I will be working on increasing production in the coming days. Hopefully, I will find time to get out on the water soon. Have a great Summer!
