Locally Grown: Texas
A Wild Soap Bar
Manor, Texas
"Soap bartender" Maggie Hanus transforms simple, natural ingredients, including pure olive and essential oils, wildcrafted herbs and other botanicals, into luxurious bars of soap. Not only will the scents drive you wild, but a portion of the profits will be donated to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.
A-W Produce Company
Weslaco, Texas
Pampered produce deserves proper packing. Growing beautiful produce is only the first step. All it takes is one bad blemish to ruin a perfect watermelon or one fateful fall to scar an outstanding onion. That's why A-W Produce Company is as proud of its careful packing and shipping methods as its high quality fruits and vegetables. The company also embraces the latest technology to help grow and deliver high-quality, uninjured produce. "What we're proudest of is that we grow it all ourselves, and it's all grown in Texas."
Abdallah's Bakery
Houston, Texas
Enjoy delicious, authentic Middle Eastern breads made with love by the Abdallah family, who established Abdallah's Bakery and Deli more than 30 years ago as a small, backyard pita bread-baking business. Today, it's one of Houston's legendary ethnic eateries, and on any given day you'll still find two generations of the Abdallah family represented in the kitchen.
Adams Blackland Prairie
Ladonia, TX
Since 1986, Wesley and Kelly Adams have operated a family farm where they raise pasture-fed beef. They believe the unique blackland soil provides for the special quality and full flavor of their beef, since healthy soil is the basis of plant, animal, and, ultimately, human health. All animals in their grazing program are raised on pasture from birth, with no supplements. Wesley and Kelly provide their animals with high-quality forage and tend them with stress-reducing techniques. They use no growth hormones, dewormers, pesticides, or antibiotics.
In 2002, they formed a Holistic Resource Management (HRM) plan in keep with their goal to be humane, responsible, environmentally-sustainable, and financially-successful farmers. Adams Blackland Prairie is a member of the Grassfed Livestock Alliance and a recipient of the USDA's Conservation Security Program. The Adamses has received four loans through the Local Producer Loan Program, all of which have been used to purchase grassfed cattle, to be sold when at their final weight.Adams Blackland Prairie is a Local Producer Loan Program Recipient.
Alamo City Pepper Products
San Antonio, Texas
Mark Rodriguez shares his passion for hot and spicy foods by creating original spice blends. Each is a unique explosion of natural flavor, made with a variety of peppers, real citrus flavors and sea salt. Use them to season before, during or after cooking, and as a bold alternative to table salt.
Anti Monkey Butt
Buda, Texas
What do health care workers and dirt bike riders have in common? They participate in activities where friction of clothing against skin can cause soreness, itching and redness, otherwise known as "monkey butt". Anti Monkey Butt Powder is specially formulated to absorb excess sweat and reduce frictional skin irritation, providing relief for everyone from cyclists to truck drivers.
Apple Annie's
Austin, Texas
Avoid wheat without sacrificing the light, fluffy texture of old-fashioned baked goods. Apple Annie's has been developing delicious spelt recipes for more than 25 years. A stint living in Europe inspired Love Nance to return to Texas and open a small pastry shop that started supplying the original Whole Foods Market bakery in 1984. Since then, Apple Annie's has grown into a full-scale, family-owned bakery and catering operation specializing in spelt products and other natural desserts, handmade locally and delivered fresh to our stores.
Austin Slow Burn
Austin, Texas
Created by Jill and Kevin Lewis, Austin Slow Burn started with a single salsa recipe and a New Year's resolution. Today this line of gourmet fiery foods captures the powerful flavors of Texas in an array of award-winning jams, jellies, queso, salsas and sauces.
Bella Verdi Farms
Dripping Springs, Texas
Small in size, but big on flavor. That's the appeal of micro greens, which add intense flavor or edible garnish to a dish. Bella Verdi uses hydroponics to grow more than 40 varieties of these tiny, young plants, including arugula, mustard, and broccoli greens. "You can add them to just about everything to give an extra punch or big taste. I talk to people who put them on everything from eggs in the morning to steaks at night."
Bluebonnet Hydroponic Produce
Schertz, Texas
When the Oliviers opened their first hydroponic greenhouse in 2000, it came as a surprise to their daughter Catherine. Although both generations grew up on dairy farms, they'd never done farming like this before. But before long, the whole family was pitching in, and soon Catherine and her husband took over operations. It's a true family farming success story, sprouted from state-of-the-art hydroponic technology‚ resulting in tender and tasty herbs, greens and microgreens, produced with less than a third of the land space and a fraction of the water used by a conventional produce farm.
Bluebonnet Supplements
Sugar Land, Texas
The Barrows brothers grew up playing among the shelves of their grandparents' health food store and eating their mom's wholesome, healthy cooking. Years later, their passion for leading a healthy lifestyle inspired Bob Jr., Gary and Steve, along with their parents Bob Sr. and Joyce, to produce their own all-vegetarian, Kosher supplements right here in Texas.
Blumetti's Gourmet Foods
Rockwall, TX
Blumetti's uses family recipes in micro-batches to achieve authentic, home-cooked Italian flavor for its three gourmet, all-natural pasta sauces. This Texas-based company is ten years old and is owned Jim Blumetti. The sauces are distributed nationally and can be found in several Whole Foods Market regions. Blumetti's also makes the in-house pizza sauce for our Southwest region stores.
The company used the loan proceeds to finalize and roll out three new sauces to be sold at Whole Foods Market. We are excited about this product line expansion and about working with one of our long-time suppliers!
Watch a video of Jim Blumetti on our blog as he discusses his philosophy and plans for his business.Blumetti's Gourmet Foods is a Local Producer Loan Program Recipient.
Boggy Creek Farm
Austin, Texas
Boggy Creek Farm helps Austinites reconnect with the land and our food supply through a unique blend of urban and rural farming. Native Texans Larry Butler and Carol Ann Sayle start virtually all their crops from seed, and many are planted by hand. In addition to their urban farm in East Austin (including a farmhouse believed to be one of the oldest homes in the city) they also maintain a country farm near Gause, Texas‚ together the sites are a source of delicious, fresh produce, including their popular "Early Girl" tomato crop, potatoes, onions and squash.
Boomerang's Gourmet Veggie Pies
Austin, Texas
Australia-inspired handheld pies, made from scratch in Austin, Texas. Boomerang's Pies are packed with delicious seasoned vegetables and natural cheeses, enveloped in a tender, flaky crust. Three flavors available: spinach and mushroom, curry vegetable and southwest vegetable.
Buena Tierra Farm
Fredonia, Texas
By taking advantage of naturally fertile Central Texas soil, this small, family-owned farm has grown everything from radicchio to bell peppers to squash using purely organic, traditional methods. "The dirt is high-iron, red sandy loam. Things just grow like crazy here." The results are exactly the kind of crisp, colorful, delicious veggies one expects from a farm committed to a connection with nature and a simple, down home way of life.
Carter's Select Products
Austin, Texas
David and Carol Carter' homemade salsas were such a hit with friends, they realized it was time to take the fresh recipes beyond their home kitchen in Austin' Steiner Ranch neighborhood. Their salsas and chimichurri are still made with fresh veggies, olive oil and spicess, no dehydrated seasonings and no vinegar or water added, so these jars are packed with true, fresh flavor.
Casa Brasil
Austin, Texas
Sip a cup of Casa Brasil and share in the company' mission to provide rich, flavorful coffee and progressive social initiatives that benefit the people of Brazil. Casa Brasil is owned by Austinite Joel Shuler and roasted locally in small batches for great taste. Every sale helps to provide merit-based scholarships awarded to children of Brazilian coffee farmers, through a program sponsored by Whole Foods Market. Casa Brasil also supports a range of other educational and social programs.
Cheesemakers
Cleveland, Texas
After growing up on a dairy farm and working for years in the dairy industry, South Texas native James C. Keliehor designed a state-of-the-art system for manufacturing delicate specialty cheeses. That patent-pending design led him and his wife, Amy, to establish Cheesemakers, which uses milk from Texas dairy farmers to create dozens of cheeses, including goat cheeses, feta and a full line of Mexican-style cheeses.
CheesyGirl Cheese Company
Sealy, Texas
As a vegetarian, Susan Holle had a difficult time finding artisanal cheeses without animal rennet—so she decided to make them herself. All CheesyGirl cheeses are completely vegetarian, handcrafted from the milk of Texas goats who roam freely on acres of lush grass. The hand-rolled, moist, minimally aged chevre has earthy undertones and is about as fresh as it gets.
Circle in a Square Pottery
Round Rock, Texas
There's just something about a favorite mug or bowl‚ its pleasing shape, the way it feels in the hands, or its role in a daily ritual‚ that can capture one's affection like no other object. Every Japanese-inspired porcelain bowl, platter, teapot or mug by Circle in a Square artist Hilaire Ridlon is a beloved, functional, one-of-a-kind piece, destined to become a personal favorite.
Clay's Greenhouses
Weimar, Texas
Clay doesn't skimp on anything when it comes to caring for each plant, and the beautiful results are just what you'd expect from someone with more than 30 years in the gardening business. As a child, Clay developed a passion for plants, inspired by his Aunt Cecil's green thumb. When Gina joined Clay in 1983, the couple refurbished a series of abandoned greenhouses and a successful family business sprouted.
Cooper Farms
Fairfield, Texas
Self-made farmer Tim Cooper got his first job picking peaches at age 12 and planted his first orchard in 1978. Five years later, he met his soon-to-be wife Kathy (on an orchard of course), and the two have since built a family farming enterprise together. Now helped by their two teenage children, they tend 150 acres of peaches, plus 50 acres of other crops.
Coyote Creek Farm
Elgin, Texas
Jerry Cunningham is committed to raising chickens humanely and organically in the habitat nature intended, so they can thrive and produce great-tasting, organic eggs. "It became a passion of mine to change the model of food production." Coyote Creek Farm chickens are free to roam and dine on nutritious soil-dwelling critters and native grasses in addition to fresh organic grains that are milled on-site daily. This old-fashioned approach is labor-intensive, but the result is eggs with higher nutritional content and lower cholesterol.
Crystal Diane Studios
Austin, Texas
Each piece of Crystal Diane jewelry is as unique as you with a one-of-a-kind, locally handcrafted combination of natural and hard-to-find gemstones, art glass and freshwater pearls. All metals are stainless steel or 14-karat gold fill.
Cuvee Coffee
Spring, Texas
The folks at Cuvee Coffee build relationships with each coffee grower to ensure quality and sustainable growing practices at the source. Many of these fine coffees are also grown to meet the criteria for fair trade or organic certification, and each is lightly roasted in small batches so the flavor nuances and full character come through in every cup.
Deda Divine
Austin, Texas
Deda Divine has been designing jewelry for more than 20 years. Each piece is individually crafted with a variety of vintage and new glass beads, including Swarovski crystals and art glass. Metals are brass, sterling silver, gold fill or pewter. Deda has also been known to incorporate unusual trinkets from hardware or auto parts stores into her designs.
Desert to Tropics
Del Valle, Texas
Husband-and-wife team Jay and Cindy Arrendondo have turned a passion for succulent plants into a career over the past 10 years. Versatile, durable, low-water-need succulents are ideal for the Texas climate. Indoors or outdoors, their exotic appearance creates unique garden designs, patio decor and table centerpieces.
Dixon Ranch
Decatur, Texas
Dixon Ranch raises a grass-fed, grass-finished lamb crossbreed that provides delicate, mild-flavored meat. Rotational grazing, a practice that benefits the animals and the land, allows the sheep to move to fresh pasture every few days. Backed by Dixon Water Foundation, this organic ranch is dedicated to education and outreach with an emphasis on ecology and responsible land management.
Dr. Kracker
Dallas, Texas
A passion for authentic artisan breads led partners George Eckrich, Carsten Kruse and Danny Kelly to create Dr. Kracker. Inspired by the traditional flatbreads of Germany, these organic, yeast-raised, crispy crackers are packed with whole grains and seeds for a snack with incredible texture and flavor.
DWD Longhorns
Tarpley, Texas
Debbie and Don W. Davis proudly raise pure Texas Longhorn cattle with "twisty horn genetics." As advocates for sustainable agriculture, they are dedicated to breeding these full-blooded, hardy creatures with respect for the original, natural breed traits. The result of their efforts is lean, great-tasting beef, as well as preservation of a beloved symbol of Texas.
Emma's Shortbread
Austin, Texas
Delight in the simplicity of rich, old-fashioned shortbread and brownies, made with ingredients so pure you can just taste them--real butter, organic vanilla, organic peanut butter, high quality semi-sweet chocolate and French raspberry preserves. Each treat is hand baked by Randi Marks using organic flour. Raves from friends and family fueled Randi's passion for baking and led her to turn it into a business named for her young daughter, Emma, and inspired by her late mother, who taught her the joy of homemade food.
Enfusia
The Woodlands, Texas
Debra Meyers founded Enfusia with the desire to give people skin that is healthy, moisturized and nourished. Her lotions, soaps and salt bath crystals are luxuriously natural and gentle enough for those with sensitive skin. All products are free of harsh chemicals and fragrances, and are completely vegan (contains no honey).
F Bar Springs Ranch
Wichita Falls, Texas
Diaz Murray is a second-generation rancher. His current ranch is Food Alliance certified and his pasture-raised cattle graze on 100% native grasses in the Texas rolling prairie. No feedlots, no added hormones or antibiotics.
Fara Café
Austin, Texas
Among only a handful of Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee farms in the world, Fara Cafe is owned and operated by the Farahani family, which has a five-generation tradition of coffee cultivation. These beans are grown in the Matagalpa region of Nicaragua, thousands of feet above sea level, with an emphasis on eco-friendly agricultural practices, rainforest stewardship and clean water‚ then imported directly to Austin and locally roasted for fresh flavor.
Finca Pura Vida
Fayetteville, Texas
"I'm a chef and my husband is a farmer. We put a lot of care into the crops we grow because we want the best-tasting vegetables possible." Gayla Lyons & Edgar Chaves
Frank X. Tolbert x2
Houston, Texas
For decades, Frank X. Tolbert's chili recipe has gained admiration and respect from chiliheads the world over. Now his son, contemporary artist Frank X. Tolbert the 2nd, shares this delicious chili, based on the original recipe created by his father, co-founder of the Terlingua World Championship Chili Cookoff and author of the "chili bible" A Bowl of Red. Made with fresh Whole Foods Market ground beef and a special spice blend that gives it medium heat, it's what Frank calls "an epicurean delight based on a true Texas chili recipe."
Fredericksburg Farms
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg Farms brings authentic Texas taste to every meal, from morning pancakes to a barbecued chicken dinner. This locally made line of condiments, hot sauces, grilling and barbecue sauces, jellies and preserves is made from natural ingredients, inspired by the array of crops grown at Fredericksburg Farms.
Fredericksburg Peach Company
Fredericksburg, Texas
The Fredericksburg Peach Company label represents the livelihood of more than 30 family-owned orchards in Central and East Texas. Frank Davis, a second-generation peach grower, founded the company in 1985 to provide marketing and distribution support for small, local farms that might not otherwise survive. "Our farmers are passionate about growing, but they don’t have the capability to market and transport their product. I saw that need and filled it."
Garden Valley Orchards
Lindale, Texas
Four years ago, Chris Delker decided to revive his father's farming business. Since then, the whole family has gotten into the act of using earth-friendly growing practices to produce bright, beautiful sunflowers and plump, juicy hydroponic tomatoes. The family and their products are all rooted in good old-fashioned business values that emphasize quality and freshness. "We get the flowers to the store within a day or two of being picked so you can have maximum shelf life."
GC Organic
Cedar Creek, Texas
When it comes to tomatoes, Gad Goldstein never gambles. His precious vines are exclusively greenhouse grown in a nutritious, organic compost instead of soil. Crider Farms offers several seasonal tomato varieties, including a signature "pink" tomato, which is low in acid and high in sweetness, and beefsteak. In addition to the winning taste, laboratory tests have shown that these plump, bright beauties have as much as three times more vitamins and minerals than a usual tomato.
Glen Maracek Farms
Midkiff, Texas
"People think of land like a square on a map. But when you love land, it's like a member of your family." Glen & Mary Maracek
Gloria's Premium Tortilla Company
Fort Worth, Texas
The Cardona family has been making fine corn tortilla products since 1930. Company founder Gloria Cardona continues this age-old family tradition, using all natural ingredients to make thin, crisp, stone ground corn tortilla chips, soft corn and flour tortillas, tamales and picante sauce.
GoodPop
Austin, Texas
When Manuel and Laura Flores set out to introduce their children to "paletas" (Spanish for traditional ice pops made with fresh fruit), they were faced with choices containing colorings and other additives. Determined to provide a more wholesome treat, they created GoodPop. Enjoy frozen pops made with real fruit and only the best quality, all natural and organic ingredients. No high fructose corn syrup or refined sugar, and nothing artificial ever. Flavors: Hibiscus Mint, Soy Coconut, Coffee, Mango, Mango Chile, Strawberry, Tamarindo, Watermelon Agave, Pineapple Basil.
Green Valley Food Corporation
Dallas, Texas
Reports about the benefits of antioxidants are sprouting up everywhere, and that's great news for George and Allison Chang, whose hydroponically grown BroccoSprouts have been found to contain high levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants as well as vitamins A, C, iron and B vitamins. Nothing but pure water is used to grow these tasty sprouts in compliance with guidelines set forth by the Brassica Sprout Group, an entity that sets strict standards for the production of sprouts.
Gundermann Farms
Glen Flora, Texas
Third-generation farmers Walter and Joan Gundermann believe in a holistic approach to farming and caring for the land. Their 90-acre farm yields more than 100 different fruits and vegetables, some certified organic and all grown with sustainability in mind. Their bounty, including kale, figs, pears, tomatoes, lettuce and much more, often arrives fresh on store shelves within hours after picking.
Hail Merry
Dallas, Texas
Created by Dallas raw food chef Susan O'Brien, these snackable, gluten-free, vegan treats are dehydrated at a low temperature to protect the essential oils and living enzymes found in the organic, raw ingredients.
Hairston Creek
Burnet, Texas
"We feel that farmers are important to the landscape of the community." Sarah & Gary Rowland
Hard Night Good Morning Skin Care
Dallas, Texas
A natural skin care line with a mission‚ and a name all women can relate to regardless of their day jobs! Whether working as a stay-at-home mom or a corporate executive, our modern lives are busy and stressful. These aloe vera-based, pharmaceutical-grade skin care products are designed to help you look and feel better, gain confidence and minimize the signs of aging. Created by skin care industry veteran D'Andra Simmons, the complete range covers everything from cleansing to toning to detox.
Harlingen Shrimp Farm
Los Fresnos, Texas
Harlingen Shrimp Farm white shrimp are responsibly farmed and chilled from the moment they leave the water. Because they're raised in high-salinity water, these shrimp are also full of flavor, and they're available several ways, including "fresh never frozen," which provides an uncommonly crisp, fresh texture.
Heald's Valley Farms Ltd.
Edinburg, Texas
Whether you prefer to eat it drink it, you can count on sweet, juicy citrus fruit from Heald's Valley Farms all season long. This South Texas farm has been tending orchards and perfecting its farming techniques for nearly a quarter of a century. Its bounty includes deep, red Rio Star and perky, pink Henderson grapefruit varieties; meaty, seedless Navel oranges; and a range of delicious juicing oranges.
Holy Cow Beef
Graham, TX
Ann and Weldon Warren of Holy Cow Beef are new ranchers who sold their first pasture-raised animals in 2006. They operate an Angus cow/calf operation, where they employ low-stress management techniques and use no hormones or antibiotics on their animals. They believe in being good stewards of their grazing acreage, using rotational grazing and no pesticides.
Holy Cow Beef, a member of the Grassfed Livestock Alliance, has received two loans under the Local Producer Loan Program, both of which were used to purchase grassfed heifers, which will then be sold when they are at their finished weight.Holy Cow Beef is a Local Producer Loan Program Recipient.
Honey Guy
Winona, Texas
Honey Guy Don Johnson stays busy as a bee developing natural products made with honey from his 500 beehives. Among the third-generation beekeeper' proudest accomplishments is the creation of Honey Guy Waterblocker Beeswax Cream, a lightweight, silky-smooth moisturizer that heals and seals the skin effectively all day long.
Inwood Estates Vineyards
Dallas, Texas
Established in 1981 by Dan and Rose Mary Gatlin, Inwood Estates is a family-owned winery near downtown Dallas with a second location in the Texas Hill Country. The vineyard' four handcrafted, award-winning wines are based on Spanish Palomino and Tempranillo varieties, and are the result of 25 years of research and development invested in five Texas vineyards.
Isaac's Woodworks
Austin, Texas
Each of these durable, right- or left-handed spoons, spatulas, spreaders and other utensils is hand carved from native Texas mesquite, the second hardest wood in the world. The smooth, handsome shapes feel great in the palm of your hand. Artist Isaac Alexander considers mequite the ideal wood for his unique utensils not only because it can endure the rigors of cooking, but also for its beauty and character, including distinct grain and color variations.
J.D. Organic Farm, Bassman Fresh
Cleveland, Texas
Jackie Bass grew up on a farm, and a passion for that lifestyle stayed with him, even through the years he spent working behind a desk. In 1992, he established his own East Texas farm, where the sandy loam soil and high acidity creates the perfect growing environment for sweet blueberries. He personally tends the land himself, producing 11 varieties of certified organic blueberries.
Janie's Cakes
Tyler, Texas
Janie Clapp's baking talent and commitment to quality ingredients come through in every bite of her pound cakes, which after 20 years are still mixed and baked by hand. These deliciously dense, rich cakes are made with organic Madagascar vanilla extract, Scharffen Berger chocolate and organic Texas pecans. Janie even raises her own chickens and collects the fresh eggs each morning.
Jimmy O'Brien
San Antonio, Texas
Jimmy O'Brien spent 20 years working in the restaurant industry, marinating on his original sauce recipes all the while, until 1991 when he perfected those recipes and turned them into a business. Today his original, award-winning Texas marinades, salsas, sauces and rubs for grilled meats, veggies and seafood are made in San Antonio with fresh fruits, veggies, herbs and spices, and without corn syrup or preservatives.
Johnson's Backyard Garden
Austin, Texas
When Brenton Johnson took up gardening in 2004, the agricultural engineer and father of four stumbled on a new career as a farmer. Today his backyard-garden-turned-urban- vegetable-farm yields more than 50 different organic vegetables and herbs and is the largest CSA in the South.
Judy Millspaugh
Spring Branch, Texas
Hill Country glass artist Judy Millspaugh uses large sheets of colorful glass, which are cut into pieces, fused together and kiln-fired to create each one-of-a-kind piece of art. "I love functional glass because it's like a piece of art that you can take off the wall and start using."
Kindle Farms
Grand Saline, Texas
Enjoy tasty, naturally sweet spuds cultivated by a second-generation Texas farmer. Since 1972, Thomas Kindle has grown sweet potatoes on his own farm, just east of Dallas.
Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms
Gonzalez, Texas
Delicate, earthy fungi are very perishable, so buying locally offers the best odds for plump texture and fresh flavor. Fortunately, Darrell McLain and his sons have grown white button, baby bella, and portabella mushrooms right here in Texas since 1988. And because of specific growing conditions, these mushrooms also earn bonus points for nutrient content, including substantial amounts of potassium, vitamin D, B-complex vitamins, and selenium (an antioxidant).
Klepac Greenhouses
Texas Hill Country
Jimmy Klepac is carrying on a family tradition begun by his grandmother, Mary Klepac, who first started growing mums in her greenhouse in 1953. People passing by wanted to buy them, and before long a business was born. Now in its third generation of family ownership, Klepac strives to provide its customers with blooming plants of superior quality with a longer shelflife.
Lana's Eggrolls
Austin, Texas
More than 25 years ago, Lana Lartigue took an unexpected detour from her career as a computer network analyst when co-workers at a software company began requesting enormous orders for her homemade eggrolls. As demand grew, it became a full-time endeavor‚ not a complete surprise since Lana' entire family was successful in the food business in Vietnam. Lana first learned the art of eggrolls from her mom, and still maintains handmade quality with a delicate, wafer-thin pastry stuffed with fresh vegetables and a precise blend of spices.
Leigh Oliver's
Tyler, Texas
Leigh Vickery, who grew up in Mississippi and now lives in the East Texas town of Tyler, created a line of quesos and pimento cheeses that rival the best in any Southern or Texas home kitchen. Leigh loves food as much as we do. And we love Leigh, because her company has a mission, very similar to ours: selling the highest quality, best-tasting food and making a difference at the same time. Leigh donates 50% of her profits back to nonprofit organizations that make a difference! If the amazing flavor of her products doesn't sell you, her mission should.
Lightsey Farms
Mexia, Texas
It's been more than 80 years since E.E. Lightsey's family began farming fruit, and he's still out in the field today. Now joined by his daughters, Mary and Lisa, who were also raised on the farm, this family-owned land yields blackberries, peaches, plums, persimmons and onions--all grown in fruit-friendly, sandy clay soil and hand-delivered to our stores within 24 hours of picking.
Lily of the Desert
Denton, Texas
Lily of the Desert, the largest certified organic grower of aloe vera products, uses aloe grown in the Rio Grande Valley, home to the company's farm, laboratory and processing plant. Every aloe vera leaf is refrigerated within hours after harvesting, which helps to ensure the quality of the 200 active compounds contained within these healing plants.
Mama Says Wash!
Austin, Texas
Soapmaking started as a hobby, became an addiction, and then evolved into a business for owner and mama Kathy Jones. Her designer soaps are available in a wide variety of styles, colors, fragrances, formulations and shapes. Enjoy good clean fun in the form of Texas, flowers, rose petals and more. These beautiful soaps make great gifts for friends, kids and even dogs.
Margarita's Gourmet Flour Tortillas
Manchaca, Texas
When she was only 7 years old, Sonia Margarita Grizzle learned the craft of tortilla making from her mother. Years later, she still adheres to the traditional five-ingredient recipe as the basis of her gourmet tortillas. Made with organic flour and non-GMO corn, and minimally processed.
Mccall Creek Farms
Blanco, Texas
The Itz family knows what tomatoes should taste like--plump, meaty, sweet, and above all else, bursting with flavor. "People have forgotten what good produce tastes like because growers have to pack everything 'green' and it's shipped from a long ways off." McCall Creek Farms tomatoes are vine-ripened just a few hours away in the Texas Hill Country. Then they're hand picked at their peak so you can get reacquainted with the authentic taste of fresh tomatoes.
Miles of Chocolate
Austin, Texas
One bite of this decadent dessert, and you'll be willing to travel miles for the rich, dense chocolate, often described as a cross between a brownie and a dark chocolate truffle. Creator Miles Compton carefully oversees the creation of each and every batch of this sumptuous secret recipe.
Monkey's Lunchbox
Smithville, Texas
These delicious, wheat-free bakery creations are all handcrafted by Zach Pringle, who has been baking since age 8 and took over operations of the business at age 14. Like all teens, he likes to experiment, mainly with spelt flour since his whole family is allergic to wheat‚ and he gets a thrill from developing each new recipe.
Morgen Chocolate
Dallas, Texas
Morgen Chocolate, Dallas-Fort Worth's oldest chocolate company, has handcrafted all natural treats using the finest Belgian chocolate for more than 25 years. The company is owned by husband-and-wife team, Noah Houghton and Katrina Merrem, who traded in their careers in professional accounting to pursue a more purpose-driven life. They often laugh that they went from "counting beans" to "cocoa beans."
Morrison Farms
Cleburne, Texas
Farming is challenging. That's what the Morrisons love about it. For 20 years, they have lovingly and organically grown an array of fruits and vegetables, including hard-to-find, dark green Lee okra, as well as summer squash, cucumbers, radishes, eggplant and more. The variety of crops keeps this husband-and-wife team challenged for nine months out of the year and feeds their simple passion to provide healthy food for people. "We strongly believe in the connection between soil health and human health. You are what you eat, literally."
Mossbridge Farms
Somerville, Texas
More than a decade ago, Sandee Moss decided to venture beyond her tiny farmhouse kitchen and share her decadent desserts with fellow Texans. Within a few years, her cakes found a place on menus of some of the state's trendiest restaurants, and an old barn on her property had been converted into a state-of-the-art kitchen. Every cake is still crafted by hand from rich chocolate, real cream cheese and other fine ingredients.
Nazareth Olive Oil
Austin, Texas
When a techie from Texas traveled to Israel on business, he returned with a new appreciation for high-quality olive oil and couldn‚'t wait to share it with fellow Texans‚ that's how Nazareth Olive Oil was born. Sourced from Nazareth, Israel, this oil comes from Syrian olive trees grown with no fertilizers, no pesticides and no irrigation except rainwater. The result is a high quality, golden olive oil with exceptionally pure flavor.
Nortex Wholesale Nursery
Wylie, Texas
Get a complete herb garden "to go." Nortex offers more than 100 varieties of potted herbs on a seasonal basis--everything from arugula to rosemary to watercress. The family-owned farm is committed to beautifying and simplifying life for the home gardener and culinary enthusiast. "We want each plant to go home with the customer and be successful for them." These starter plants make great additions to a backyard garden or can soak up the sun on a kitchen windowsill until it's time to pluck a few leaves for a recipe.
Orange Blossom Farm
Carrizo Springs, Tx
Feel like a kid again when you bite into a sweet, juicy, old-fashioned variety watermelon without a worry in the world. Orange Blossom Farm watermelons are grown organically on a nearby, family-owned farm. Bay Laxson chooses to grow his fruit organically for the benefit of "everybody--the water, the soil, the people who live on it, the people who work on it, and the people who consume it. We're all on the same planet."
P2 Organic Farm
Elgin, Texas
Husband-and-wife team Anthony and Suzanne Piccola have been farming for nearly three decades, and theirs was one of the first certified organic farms in Texas in 1988. Now specializing in greenhouse growing, the Piccolas lovingly tend a variety of crops, including flavorful, juicy tomatoes; fresh, tender basil; tasty peppers; and crisp cucumbers.
Paqui Tortillas
Austin, Texas
Named for and inspired by the Aztec word Paqui, which means "to be happy," these tortillas are made with natural and organic ingredients for rich taste that brings happiness to any meal. Available in a variety of festive flavors, including buttermilk, cilantro, roasted jalapeno and pumpkin.
Pita Pal
Houston, Texas
Enjoy a fresh Mediterranean feast in your own kitchen, but leave the work to Joseph and Melissa Navon, who create every Pita Pal product from scratch with natural ingredients. The vegetarian and vegan-friendly foods include more than half a dozen varieties of hummus, salads, pita bread and frozen, ready-to-cook falafel, and are so fresh, they usually ship the same day they are made.
Pola Artisan Cheese
Houston, TX
Enjoy truly local artisan cheeses, handcrafted by self-taught Cheesemaker Brandon Shillings, who first earned his reputation for making delicious cheeses and charcuterie meats in-house at some of the city's finest restaurants. In addition to his talent for creating remarkable cheeses, he has a strong commitment to supporting local farms (and singlehandedly prevented one local goat farmer from going out of business). Cheeses made with local raw or pasteurized cow's milk and goat's milk, primarily from La Mancha goats, which yield a clean-tasting, high-butterfat milk traditionally used to make Spanish cheeses.
Progress Coffee
Austin, TX
Joshua Bingaman started Progress Coffee, an East Austin café, in 2004, when he and his wife Sarah moved to Austin. In addition to the storefront, Progress wholesales its fair-trade, organic coffee, which is roasted by hand in small batches. In 2008, they started selling bags of coffee to our Lamar store in Austin.
Joshua used the loan to purchase a weigh and fill machine, a roaster, and two grinders, which helped Progress to increase their volume and sell to additional customers.
Check out Progress Coffee in the Whole Story blog!
Progress Coffee is a Local Producer Loan Program Recipient.
Proud Pepper Jelly Company
Austin, Texas
This brother- and sister-owned company sprouted when Brad Duggan and Vicki Toothman' father, Bob Duggan, grew more jalapenos and habaneros in his backyard garden than he knew what to do with. Since he couldn't convince everyone else to join him in eating the peppers straight, Bob began making delicious, sweet-spicy pepper jelly recipes that are the basis for this local company' four current flavors: Jalapeno, Cranbanero, Raspanero and Peach Bonnet.
Pure Luck Dairy
Dripping Springs, Texas
Pure Luck farmstead cheeses are handcrafted right here in the Hill Country by Amelia Sweethardt using fresh milk from Nubian and Alpine goats. Amelia learned to make cheese alongside her mother, who established the farm in 1979--and her experience and focus on quality come through in every fresh-tasting, rich, delicious bite. Today, she runs the farm with her husband, Ben Guyton, who helps out with everything from cheese deliveries to birthing goats. Amelia spends many long days in a 12 x 24-foot, window-lined room, looking out on the farm and the goats, busy yet content in the ritual of cheesemaking.
Quack's 43rd Street Bakery
Austin, Texas
Quack's has been a fixture on the local coffeehouse and bakery scene for more than a quarter of a century. Baristas and bakers started serving up lattes and croissants at its original location on "the drag" in the early 1980s, and there's no substitute for experience when it comes to crafting perfect muffins, pastries and other baked goods. Staying true to its decades-in-the-making reputation for homemade quality, a staff of experienced bakers still creates every batch from scratch. And what you see on our shelves was probably baked this morning!
Raindrop Farms
Alamo, Texas
Four years ago, Kent Pirkle began using modern hydroponic technology to introduce more Texans to age-old, beloved heirloom tomatoes. Heirlooms are the "granddaddy" of modern tomatoes, oddly shaped varieties with tender, thin skins and bursting with flavor. Not just for fancy restaurants anymore, heirlooms have gained popularity as regular folks discover the taste they've been missing. Fragile heirlooms are best when grown locally to minimize handling and travel. All Raindrop Farms tomatoes are sustainably grown in volcanic rock with reverse-osmosis filtered water.
RiceSelect
Alvin, Texas
Since first introduced as Texmati more than 30 years ago, RiceSelect has thrived in Alvin, Texas, with a line of natural, organic and authentic rice varieties and flavors that originated in cuisines from around the globe.
Rio Grande Organics
Quemado, Texas
Rio Grande Organics provides three varieties of fresh, organic pecans, packed without any salt or sugar so their delicious, nutty flavor comes through. And because pecans are a year-round crop, this farm also provides permanent jobs for farm workers. "The great thing about farming is that a lot can be accomplished. You can create a better environment for your workers, produce better food to eat, and create a better environment for wildlife. That' doing a lot of good."
Rio Queen Citrus Inc.
Mission, Texas
Born in Texas and naturally sweet with skin pretty enough to turn heads in the grocery aisle. Yep, we're talking about grapefruit, which has been a tradition at this family-owned farm for 40 years. Down in South Texas, the intense sun, cool nights, and fertile soil create the perfect environment that gives Rio Queen Citrus Ruby Red grapefruit its dark, red color and succulent sweetness. "The fruit here is much sweeter, not necessarily because we have more sugar, but because we have less acid, which means less tart taste."
Rio Queen Citrus Inc.
Mission, Texas
Born in Texas and naturally sweet with skin pretty enough to turn heads in the grocery aisle. Yep, we're talking about grapefruit, which has been a tradition at this family-owned farm for 40 years. Down in South Texas, the intense sun, cool nights, and fertile soil create the perfect environment that gives Rio Queen Citrus Ruby Red grapefruit its dark, red color and succulent sweetness. "The fruit here is much sweeter, not necessarily because we have more sugar, but because we have less acid, which means less tart taste."
Ross Farms
Granger, Texas
Healthy beef needs healthy forage, and at Ross Farm, every effort is made to naturally enhance soil biology, so the cattle can graze on protein- and nutrient-rich grasses...no pesticides, no corn, no feedlot. Rancher Betsy Ross’ grass-finished herds yield truly tender, lean beef. "We believe we are being good stewards of the land, producing beef we want our children and grandchildren to eat, and treating the animals we tend with care and respect."
Royer's Round Top Caf
Round Top, Texas
It has been more than 20 years since the Royers began serving their old-fashioned pies, which are craved far and wide and have been shipped to every state in the country. Every time you enjoy the homemade taste, the Royer family shares a slice of the proceeds with several nonprofits that provide second chances and hope for Texans.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Houston, Texas
Until 1994, Houston was the largest city in the country without a microbrewery. Brock Wagner changed all that when he established Saint Arnold (named for the Patron Saint of Brewers). This small microbrewery offers 10 different, full-flavored beers, including five seasonal brews--several of which have won awards and all of which are still artfully brewed, filtered and bottled by a group of passionate beer lovers.
Shudde Ranch
Sabinal, Texas
Gerry and Janelle Shudde carry on the legacy of a family farm established by Gerry' grandparents in 1897. While their herds are known for having naturally lower levels of fat and cholesterol and for producing exceptionally tender meat, the Shudde' are equally proud of their primary crop—nutrient-rich, native grasses, which are essential to the health of their cattle and the flavor of their beef. "We strive for healthy living and want to bring that same lifestyle to our customers through our heart-healthy, flavorful, tender beef."
Sides Pea Farm
Canton, Texas
Known around town as the "pea queen and king," Virginia Sides and her late husband, Winford, established their farm more than 50 years ago. Peas quickly became their most successful and favorite crops as they developed a fondness for the tiny veggie's versatility. Today Virginia and her grandson, Brandon, carry on the family farming tradition, specializing in several pea varieties, including traditional black-eyed peas; white cream peas; and aptly named purple hulls, which grow enveloped in striking indigo pods.
Signature Flan
Bedford, Texas
This melt-in-your-mouth treat is made from scratch and available exclusively at Whole Foods Market. Each adorable dish of artisan flan is carefully crafted to achieve the creamiest texture and finished the traditional way with sweet caramel on top. Made without corn syrup or artificial ingredients.
SilverLeaf Olive Oils
Stafford, Texas
The beauty and culinary traditions of Southern Italy inspired Neal and Adriane McWeeney to bring their SilverLeaf olive oils to Texas. The extra-virgin, first-pressed oils are grown, harvested and bottled on the St. Giovanni Dominican Monastery estate in Italy.
Skeeter Screen
Garland, Texas
The Stuart family has spent the past 40 years sniffing out new opportunities to share their love of natural and essential oil fragrances. Their company, Scent Shop, is now run by the second generation, brothers Mark and John Stuart, along with Hank Heyn. All Scent Shop products are created and manufactured entirely in Garland, Texas. Skeeter Screen Personal Spray, Votive Candles and Reed Diffuser deter all types of biting insects, are earth-friendly and are made with NO deet, pyrethrin, insecticides or herbicides.
Skin Organics
Austin, TX
Ann Webb’s relationship with natural beauty products started in her small hometown in Louisiana, where as a young woman, she couldn’t find the products that she needed to treat her acne problems. Her struggle led to an interest in skin care and an eventual career as an esthetician. Ann now owns a clinic in Austin, where she first started developing her all-natural cleansers, exfoliants, and moisturizers, sold as Skin Organics.
Ann used her loan funds to fund the expansion of her retail skin care line, exclusive to Whole Foods Market.Check out Skin Organics in the Whole Story blog!
Skin Organics is a Local Producer Loan Program Recipient.
Smokin' Dave
Coldspring, Texas
Bring new zing to your old family recipes with flavor-packed smoked jalapenos and smoked garlic. According to Smokin Dave, they make tasty additions to everything from lasagna to barbecue. Not to be confused with chipotles, these smoked jalapenos remain plump after being gently smoked to enhance their flavor, then packed in a special blend of spices.
South Tex Organics
Mission, Texas
The 1983 hard freeze was a blessing in disguise for fifth-generation farmer Dennis Holbrook. Although frigid temperatures obliterated most of his crop that season, he saw it as an opportunity to completely convert his citrus groves to organic. "I feel like I was divinely inspired. I seized the opportunity to make something good out of something bad.” The farm has since grown into the largest organic citrus and vegetable operation in Texas with more than 500 acres of wonderfully sweet and juicy Rio Star grapefruit, Meyer lemons, Mars oranges, and other varieties of produce.
Soy Delites
Austin, Texas
Local candle maker Christy Bell hand pours every Soy Delites candle, made with natural soybean wax, cotton wicks and potent, natural fragrances. She and her husband, Garland Wolcott, began offering these beautifully packaged, aromatic candles as a natural and sustainable alternative to petroleum-based paraffin. Clean-burning soy candles light up the lives of many allergy sufferers who can’t tolerate other candles, and they also burn and last longer due to their low melting point.
St. Jude's Hydroponic Garden
Bryan, Texas
Husband-and-wife team Maria Novoa and Triny Gutierrez believe hydroponics is the future of agriculture. Their family's farm is home to the state's first certified organic hydroponic greenhouses, which produce plump, juicy tomatoes for the local community.
Stroope Honey Farms
Pearland, Texas
Third-generation beekeepers from the Stroope family are carrying on a 45-year tradition with this unfiltered, unblended, unadulterated 100% pure natural honey from a local source. Indigenous Gulf Coast wildflowers impart it with a uniquely sweet, robust, floral taste.
Sweetish Hill Bakery
Austin, Texas
For more than 35 years, Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe has been an Austin institution. Each coconut macaroon is still made by hand, the Texas Ginger Snaps are made with fresh ginger root, and the Tollhouse cookies are made with Texas pecans. The bakery is operated by Jim Murphy, a longtime partner who honed his baking skills in Paris and New York.
Texas Lavender Hills Farm & Market
Blanco, Texas
For more than 65 years, the Hunter family has lived and ranched on this 300-acre property, a portion of which is now boosting Blanco' reputation as the "lavender capital of Texas." The lavender grown here by third-generation owners Jill and Doak Hunter is used to create an array of bath and body, aromatherapy, culinary and other natural products.
Texas Medicinals
Austin, Texas
Highly trained herbalist Ginger Webb established Texas Medicinals to help others heal themselves and reconnect with the Earth through the use of herbs. All Texas Medicinals products are made with wild harvested and organic herbs from small-scale growers.
Texas Natural Organics
Buda, Texas
The Goodwins say they're accidental farmers. But one taste of their delicious zucchini, squash, cucumbers or leafy greens leaves one wondering if it was really an accident that their organic backyard patch blossomed into a 15-acre farm. Despite expansion, you won't find much high-tech equipment here. Just three generations of close-knit family farmers who are seriously in tune with their land. "We're just taking care of our little bit of space so it will be in better shape than we found it."
Texas Quail Farms
Lockhart, Texas
It doesn't take a degree in agriculture to know this lean, local quail has a great-tasting, meaty flavor and soaks up marinades beautifully. That's because farm owners Todd Smith and John and Melba Sexton all have degrees in agriculture and more than 20 years experience raising game birds and poultry. All Texas Quail Farms birds are hatched, raised and processed locally, and fed a diet made from locally sourced grains.
Texas Specialty Cut Flowers
Blanco, Texas
Over the past 15 years, Texas Specialty Cut Flowers has grown from 12 cedar-covered acres to a farm of more than 100 acres in the Texas Hill Country. Pamela and Frank Arnosky share a strong belief that people should know not only where their food is grown, but also their flowers. "We are trying to bring a local presence to an international market. We want people to know who their farmer is and feel a connection to the farm."
The Natural Gardener
Austin, Texas
John Dromgoole created his Lady Bug line of natural soils, compost and fertilizers when he couldn't find quality organic gardening products to sell at his Natural Gardener nursery and garden shop. "I was a back-to-earth hippy who decided that caring for the earth was an important thing to do."
The Orchard at Mason
Mason, Texas
"We can wait until the fruit is sweeter and riper before we pick it because it comes from right here in the Hill Country." Keith & Diane Graham
The Sticky Toffee Pudding Company
Austin, TX
Tracy Claros, a native of the Lake District in England, has been in Austin baking English-style puddings since 2003. And we're certainly pleased about that, because her products are outstanding! Don't just take our word for it — her English Lemon Pudding was selected as the winner in the 2007 Fancy Food Show (NASFT) competition for "Outstanding Baked Good." Although her desserts are currently sold in eight Whole Foods Market regions, this lifelong baker still makes her puddings by hand.
Tracy plans to use the loan to purchase a tray sealing machine, which will allow her to reduce her labor costs and increase her volume.The Sticky Toffee Pudding Company is a Local Producer Loan Program Recipient.
Tom's Tabooley
Austin, Texas
A local favorite for more than 30 years! Tom and Brigid Abdenour have long catered to Austin's health-conscious culture with a fresh, flavor-packed line of hand-rolled dolmas and Mediterranean dips, salads and pastries, including their famous Tom' Tabooley salad.
TreeGrace Farms
Lubbock, Texas
The tiny Valencia peanut really packs a punch. This nut's sweet, powerful flavor makes it the perfect choice for homemade peanut butter‚ just the thing to bring a smile to a child's face. TreeGrace Farms is also bringing joy to hundreds of elementary school children with its hands-on organic gardening education programs. That's just one way this family-owned farm is living up to its commitment to "active involvement in agriculture, education, and community."
Triple J Organics
Pharr, Texas
Farming with integrity is a priority for Jesus Lozano, who learned the benefits and ways of organic farming from his father. Since 1995, Lozano has provided our customers with some of the sweetest, juiciest, vine-ripened citrus, while doing a job he enjoys. The fruit is picked to order and packed on-site to arrive at the store as fresh as can be.
Tropical Oasis
Melissa, Texas
A purely amazing deal from a local company! With only one ingredient‚ pure acai‚ this natural supplement is packed with lots of antioxidant power to support your body's natural defenses. Acai is a tropical fruit, widely used for its immune system boosting capabilities.
VA Designs
Austin, Texas
Jewelry Designer Valerie Ambroson DiFabio makes each of her creations with sterling silver, and natural, semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls or Swarovski crystals. A portion of sales from The Seeds of Change collection goes to an organization of the same name, which provides GED tutoring and meals to a homeless shelter in the Dallas area.
Verstuyft Family Farms
Von Ormy, Texas
For the Verstuyft family, what grows in Texas stays in Texas. Five generations ago, back when San Antonio was nothing but farmland, they began providing Texas grocers with locally grown cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and other winter bounty. Today, Tom Verstuyft and his son, Randy, continue that tradition of local freshness by shipping everything the same day it's picked exclusively to stores within the state.
Village Farms
Marfa and Fort Davis, Texas
Sweet, plump and juicy tomatoes. What more would you expect from an industry leader in hydroponic farming, Village Farms uses hydroponic technology pioneered in Holland to grow fruit that is the essence of Italian cuisine right here in Texas. Enjoy a burst of freshness and flavor in the form of delicate, sweet on-the-vine varieties or the big, hearty beefsteak.
Vital Farm
Austin, TX
Matthew O'Hayer started Vital Farm, an organic pastured egg producer, in 2007. The farm is located on 27 acres along Onion Creek in South Austin. He used the loan funds to purchase a variety of equipment which is helping him increase the size of his operation.
Check out Vital Farm on the Whole Story blog!
Vital Farm is a Local Producer Loan Program Recipient.
White Mountain Foods
Austin, Texas
Founder Reed Murray established White Mountain Foods to share the benefits of unprocessed and minimally processed, simple, live foods, including the original, tart and creamy Bulgarian yogurt that has set the standard for generations—and a range of innovative vegetarian foods such as wheat roast and tofu spreads. Today, Reed's brother, Jeff Murray, is at the helm, and the White Mountain yogurt recipe remains virtually unchanged since the 1970s.
Wholesome Sweeteners
Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land's namesake company, Imperial Sugar, made a sweet deal when it teamed up with a family-owned, international importer of organic and unrefined sugar to create Wholesome Sweeteners in 1995. This local partnership is a leading source for a variety of natural and organic sweeteners.
Williams Family Farms Salsa
Hill Country, Texas
Two generations of the Williams family are carrying on a 110-year-old salsa making tradition. Each recipe is inspired by W.B. Williams, a hard-working farmer during the early 1900s and great grandfather of Natalie Hardage, who now leads the company. Her vision is to preserve the family's dedication to quality and continue crafting tasty salsas using fresh, pure vegetables, legumes, fruits and herbs.
Willy's Salsa
Arlington, Texas
Created from an old family recipe, this Tex-Mex salsa has a healthy twist. Made by hand with no added sugar, its touch of sweetness comes from fresh veggies, including sweet onions and carrots. Great for low-carb diets, yet still packed with plenty of flavor for any salsa lover‚ and the medium and hot varieties have plenty of kick from fresh jalapenos and habaneros.
Winter Garden
Uvalde, Texas
Since 1992, father and son have worked side-by-side, tending land that has been in the family since 1950. They are proud owners of one of the few small, family-owned farms still surviving in the Winter Garden region, north of Laredo, where mild weather and aquifer-fed irrigation systems allow for an extended growing season for cabbage, broccoli, onions and other crops.
Wrights of Texas
Katy, Texas
Peggy Wright's friends have been raving about her hot sauces for more than 20 years, and it's no surprise to them that this brand new company received two 2nd place awards at the Houston Hot Sauce festival just months after Peggy and her husband Rick brought the recipe from their kitchen to the public. Based on an old San Antonio family recipe, each jar is still handmade with fresh, hand-selected produce.
YaYa's Raw Rah
Houston, Texas
Patricia Greer couldn't let leftovers go to waste. As co-founder of a local food co-op, she began experimenting with recipes using organic produce that went unclaimed. Fellow co-op member Charlotte White was so impressed with the flavorful snacks, the two decided to start a company. The end result is a line of locally made, flavor-packed crackers that will have your whole family yelling "rah-rah" for more.
Zen Shots
Carrollton, Texas
Alex and Connie Hernandez created Zen Shots as an alternative to caffeine-and-sugar-loaded energy drinks. Each two-ounce Zen Shot, made from a blend of green tea extract, aloe vera juice, agave nectar, B and C vitamins and ginseng, provides the antioxidant benefits of 5 to 8 cups of green tea‚ not to mention a nice energy boost.
