My Blog

Category: Value-Added Vendor

  • Sweet Life Jelly Company

    Sweet Life Jelly Company

    Say hi to Deena!

    About Sweet Life Jelly Company

    We are a family run small handcrafted jelly, jam and cooking sauce company. We offer classes in Jelly, Pickled Veggies and Charcuterie. We started out of a love of sharing food and experiences with friends and family. Our motto is Life is short make it sweet and our mission is to make every meal a memory. We want to make your whole life sweet not just your toast so we share recipes, ideas, teach you how to delight your friends and family with beautiful entertaining ideas. We also teach life skills and kitchen science so that you can have the knowledge that will allow you to always provide for your family. Now, here’s the spotlight on Deena White, owner of Sweet Life Jelly Company!

    When did you first get started?

    I have always canned with my mom. We had a summer and winter garden every year. I can’t remember when we didn’t put up our own food. Somewhere in the middle life got crazy but when the 4 kids were grown and out of the house all of a sudden I had no outlet for my creativity and I started making jellies and jams as gifts. I was working for a large Galveston based company in 2019 and when the executives came in from Missouri, I sent them home with jelly for Christmas. The orders started coming in and Sweet Life Jelly Company was born. A year later I quit my job and have been running my business full time ever since.

    What inspired you to start your business?

    The happiness that it brought to people to receive one of my handmade jellies and the joy it brought me to create and craft anything I could think of. 3

    What is your favorite thing to make/produce?

    My favorite thing to produce is always that new flavor of jelly that is rolling around in my thought process. Going from the nerve wracking wondering if it will be good to seeing it sell out because people love it makes this Italian Grandma so happy.

    Where are you from/where did you grow up?

    I grew up in New England. It comes through in my practicality, my it is what it is attitude and my independent spirit.

    Share a fun fact about yourself you’d like your customers to know!

    I hate baking. Cooking is about exploring, adventures in flavor and experimenting. This is especially true with Jelly. There is a basic recipe you must follow for safety reasons and for the jelly to be a good consistency but there is so much creative freedom! Baking is about science. It is precise and measured and it doesn’t make my soul sing. If I was Marie Kondo baking would get donated!

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  • Verve Jewelry Co

    Verve Jewelry Co

    Say hi to Allysa De La Cruz!

    Verve Jewelry Co. was born through a love of fashion, accessories, and all things western & coastal. As a Tejano whose Mexican ancestors have been in Texas for centuries, I have a deep love and appreciation for my native Texas culture. A bandana is often seen as the symbol of western fashion, which is why I decided to use it as my primary medium for jewelry making. The shells in my jewelry are representative of where I grew up — on the Texas coast.

    When did you first get started?

    The business was created March 2025, but the idea has been brewing for years.

    What inspired you to start your business?

    What really inspired me to start Verve was that I wanted to wear a bandana, but I also wanted to wear a necklace everyday. Why not marry the two?

    What is your favorite thing to make/produce?

    My signature bandana necklaces — the Carolina Slim & the Coastal Cowboy — are by far my favorite pieces to make.

    Where are you from/where did you grow up?

    Born & raised in Houston, Texas. Graduated from Dickinson high school, and still call the city of Dickinson my home.

    Share a fun fact about yourself you’d like your customers to know!

    My wonderful & supportive husband and I are high school sweethearts!

    Shop Local, Win Prizes

    Get your FREE Don’t Buy Food From Strangers Loyalty Punch Card at the GOFM Info booth to learn more!

  • VJ Farms Texas

    VJ Farms Texas

    Say hi to Alicia, Ross, Luis, & Pam!

    About VJ Farms Texas

    The story of VJ Farms begins in 1965 when our grandparents purchased this land with the G.I. Bill, the law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans. Jiles, our grandfather, served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 allowing him to purchase 72 acres in Anderson County that would initially serve as the family getaway. They spent many holidays meeting up with family near and far to gather and commune on the land. Grandma Verda was the youngest of 5 children and was very close with her siblings. The Grey/Marshall family reunion took place here on the farm once a year which gave us the opportunity to know and love our grandmother’s sisters, nieces, and nephews. This tradition would continue for 30+ years.

    In 1976, after 30 years of service, Jiles retired from the Exxon plant in Baytown, Texas and they decided to move permanently to the farm. Jiles built Verda a modest, yet nonetheless, her dream house. We feel very lucky this gift was passed to us and we feel certain that they would be proud of us today.

    We spent all summer and almost every holiday at the farm with our grandparents. We spent hours in the field or shop with Grandpa tending to cows, harvesting potatoes, fixing fences, and “tinking around” as Grandma used to say. Grandpa made sure there was time for a swim in the pond, a few casts from the Jon boat, or a trip down the zipline he installed in the backyard. We spent time with Grandma sewing, cooking, canning, and, of course, playing card games. We knew the farm took a lot of work and there wasn’t much time for sitting around. However, we never fully appreciated the true amount of work that went into the day-to-day operations and upkeep of a farm.

    Fast forward several years and here we are all grownup, our grandparents passed on many years ago, and now we had to figure out what to do with the property.

    Sweat, a little blood, more sweat, tears, and you guessed it, a little more sweat, and we’ve built ourselves a hemp farm. Not in a thousand years would Verda and Jiles expect their grandchildren to become hemp farmers. But here we are, taking the love, knowledge, and traditions our grandparents instilled in us and sowing them into a new hemp venture.

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    Get your FREE Don’t Buy Food From Strangers Loyalty Punch Card at the GOFM Info booth to learn more!

  • ZoZo Fresh

    ZoZo Fresh

    Say hi to Anastasia & Trevor Taggart!

    About ZoZo Fresh

    We are a family-owned business dedicated to promoting health and wellness. Our passion lies in crafting drinks that offer a holistic approach to enhancing overall health and well-being. Committed to sustainability, we operate as a zero-waste company and pride ourselves on innovative thinking.

    When did you first get started?

    In 2016, we embarked on our journey in a modest shared space. Our initial focus centered on selling our products at farmers markets, a platform that facilitated direct interaction with our customers and provided invaluable feedback.

    Recognizing the opportunity to enhance people’s lives through education on health and wellness, we remained steadfast in our commitment. Each passing year has seen us grow, reinvesting in our company to continually refine and deliver the finest products possible.

    What inspired you to start your business?

    Our inspiration sprouted from our shared passion for both food and health—two facets of life from which everyone can derive benefit. Our daughter Zoe served as our greatest muse, igniting within us the desire to cultivate a wholesome lifestyle that we could pass on to her.

    Witnessing the prevalence of chemicals and fast food in society, we recognized a pressing need to aid others in navigating towards healthier choices. After all, feeling good is paramount in life, prompting us to prioritize what we consume and dedicate ourselves to making each day the best it can be.

    What is your favorite thing to make/produce?

    In addition to our juices, we take pride in the by-products we craft from our pulp. Our hummus and protein balls offer not only a nutritious addition to your diet but also contribute to our sustainability efforts. By repurposing all of our pulp, we aim to minimize our impact on the planet while creating a tastier, more sustainable world.

    Where are you from/where did you grow up?

    I call Alaska my home, but have lived all over the pacific northwest before venturing to Texas. My wife Anastasia comes from Germany, and also has lived in many parts of the world.

    Share a fun fact about yourself you’d like your customers to know!

    Feel free to inquire about our extensive travels across the globe! Our experiences have broadened our perspectives and enriched our understanding of life in profound ways!

    Clock to see their menu!

    Shop Local, Win Prizes

    Get your FREE Don’t Buy Food From Strangers Loyalty Punch Card at the GOFM Info booth to learn more!

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