The new storefront at the Heritage Center is part of a business incubator program run by the Center City Association and the Heritage Center. The business is also part of the Ohio Proud program, which promotes Ohio-made products.
Huenke Family Farms is also partnering with several other businesses, allowing it to offer more products at its downtown storefront. Salsas, relishes, pickles and other products will be available from the Westbrook Cannery in Zoar, Ohio.
Sharon Domer, of Gran’s Country Kitchen, will help run the store on occasion and also offer homemade bread, fudge and cookies, while a partner named Mamma’s Little Bees will offer homemade goods like soap and lip balm on Saturdays.
“We’re trying to do everything local,” Huenke said.
Huenke first learned to make peach jam from her mother-in-law several years ago. She started offering it to family members as a Christmas gift, and eventually started experimenting with more complicated recipes.
One of her most popular now, she said, includes a line of spicy jams using jalapeno, habanero and ghost peppers, as well as one jam using a pepper called Carolina Reapers. Overall, she said she can now make 100 separate recipes, as well as some liquor-based jams.
Initially, Huenke was reluctant to try to sell it, but her husband continued to encourage her.
“To me, it was no big deal because it was just, I know how to make jam,” she said.
Eventually, Huenke said she started advertising on Facebook, and then began traveling to events to sell her products. That allowed her to develop a base of regular customers.
“I love to experiment and that’s how my creativity comes out is by experimenting in the kitchen,” Huenke said.
Domer, who will help Huenke run the store on occasion, previously operated a kiosk at the Upper Valley Mall between 2006 and 2007. She also started baking for friends and family, but wanted to see if she could earn a little extra income from her hobby.
The new store will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays.
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