Kimberly Fruchey started K & B Elderberry Acres, LLC, after battling cancer in 2017, by utilizing alternative treatments, including elderberries. She discovered a strong cottage market for elderberry syrup by happenstance and built it into a thriving farmer’s market and website commerce business. She runs her business from her farm in Wauseon, Ohio. She is primarily the only one who runs the business, but has help with fieldwork, and making product at the NOCK by her husband Bert. Two of her daughters and a couple of her grand-daughters also help with various jobs when needed.
At first, Kimberly received business planning advice and website assistance from various economic development agencies. She recognized the need for additional food processing and certification advice, so she turned to CIFT for direction.
Our team connected Kim with Cornell University for a required Processing Authority Letter. Additionally, the NOCK team helped Kim learn to process her elderberry syrup using the kitchen’s commercial equipment for processing and canning. She mastered techniques to process the elderberries in a way that retains their nutrients and stores her specialized equipment in the NOCK storage area. Kim appreciates being able to operate her business using commercial equipment without the need to invest in her own facility. She produces a batch at the NOCK approximately every six weeks and shares that her business is “going gangbusters!”
And the impacts of our partnership are quantitative:
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- Cost Savings: $35,000
- Investment Avoided: $1,500,000
- Increased/Retained Sales: $12,000
- Increased/Retained Jobs: 2
- New Investment: $45,000
Kimberly’s journey is a perfect example of how small businesses can thrive with the right support. At CIFT we’re passionate about helping entrepreneurs like Kimberly turn their dreams into reality. We provide not just resources but also the hands-on guidance that makes navigating the complexities of food production easier for small business owners.
Supporting businesses like K & B Elderberry Acres is what we do best. We’re proud to play a part in their success story and look forward to helping many more small businesses grow and thrive in the years to come.