Small farms, big flavor

Small Farms, Big Flavor is more than a slogan

When I started buying direct from small farms it was because I didn't know how to do it any other way. But it didn't take us long to realize that what started out as the "only way" was actually the "hard way" and, in fact, the "best way."

Working directly with small farms means that we get the best flavor. Some of the pepper varietals that sell best on the commodity market aren't the varietals that taste best in hot sauce, so our farms grow only the ones that taste best. And we always get them in perfect shape. It's common to get an email from a farm that says, "I'm going to pick them on Tuesday morning to deliver to you in the afternoon, does that work?" None of our peppers are collecting warehouse dust as they rot on a pallet.

But small farms are more than just a place that grows food. They enrich the soil and the fabric of their communities while giving us a more resilient foodshed. There is a lot of change in our future and a network of small farms will be better equipped to feed us than a single mega-farm that can only produce monoculture. We saw it during the pandemic and the floods here in Vermont and I am proud to be supporting the food system that we will need into the future.

Whether you enjoy our hot sauces, caramel and baked goods for the flavor or the mission, we're glad that you're along with us for the ride.