Meet our Makers Continued

Debbie Fairbanks
Savage

Before organic was a buzzword, it was a part of Debbie Fairbanks’ life. She has brought her passion and knowledge of organics to her products at Oak Valley Creations, establishing the company in 2012. Debbie offers a wide variety of products made in small batches using locally sources ingredients when ever possible. Her jellies, spices, and teas marry spice with fresh flavor. You'll often find Debbie at local farmers markets and pop-up sales. Make sure to stop by her table and try out her full product line!

Red Lake Nation Band of Chippewa
Redby

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa, located in northern Minnesota, is the only Native American tribe in the US that grows & sells their own cultivated wild rice. "Our mission is to offer unique, specialty natural foods and gift products which represent our cultural heritage", such as hand harvested wild rice, hand harvested wild fruit jellies, jam & syrups. Sales benefit the 9600+ members of the Red Lake Nation.

Try this ancient grain in our Wild Rice Salad recipe!

Dani Dircks
Stillwater

At Sailor Mercy Elderberry Syrup Company, they value hard work, faith, and family; owner and founder, Dani Dircks, has certainly proved that to be true. In 2017 Dani’s oldest son missed three days of school which led to an expensive clinic visit. Being a mama of four, she wanted to find a natural way to keep the doctors away. She began making her elderberry syrup at home to help boost immunity for her family. She saw such success with her home-brewed healing she decided to start her own company. Named for her two daughters Sailor and Mercy, Dani is now aiding families nationwide with natural immune defense, Elderberries.

This delicious syrup is perfect for at-home DIY gummies, mixing into drinks, or making juicy ice pops for sore throats and hot days! She has also crafted a delicious and healthy Apple Cider Vinegar recipe "Fire Cider" which you'll love to cook with or add to your daily health routine. We are excited to be a part of Dani's new Elderberry Lemonade launch. This is no ordinary lemonade! You'll love this special, lip smacking treat plus you get the healthy benefits of Elderberry! That's a win-win!

Dani's Elderberry Popsicles are sure to soothe a sore throat or provide a chilly treat on a sweltering summer day!

Alex Zweber
Minneapolis

Bartender Alex Zweber, of Minneapolis, launched Sharab Shrubs in 2016. A longtime former bartender,Alex is up on craft cocktail trends. “I could see the need for a product like this in the market,” he says. He started experimenting with fruit and vinegar combinations. After fermenting fruit and sugar for several days, he strains out the solids and adds white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Spice up your mocktail game with Alex's recipe for the Not a Lotta Colada

Leah Trevelen
New Ulm

Sweethaven Craft Cocktail Concentrates uses minimal, natural ingredients to make it easy for cocktail lovers to become their own master mixologist!

Leah launched her venture into the world of artisan drinks during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she decided to take the plunge to pursue her passion.

She was inspired to make drink infusions that combine fruits, herbs and other interesting flavors after receiving a shrub (fruit drinking vinegar) as a gift. “From my first sip, I was hooked.”

“During the long days at home last fall, I found myself craving a creative outlet. I was drawn to the thing that I so often enjoyed with my friends and family that I was missing…cocktails. For me happy hour is more than a drink to start the night. A cocktail is crafted to savor as I slow down and focus on the present moment with those I love.”

Sweethaven sources ingredients from local farmers markets for Leah's latest creations. Delicious as a healthy non-alcoholic mixer too! Elevate your bar cart (or any club soda!) with the addition of Sweethaven Craft Cocktail Concentrate, and enjoy delicious drinks made in minutes.

Follow Leah's recipe for a smooth and balanced cocktail or mocktail!

Josh and Kristin Mohagen
Fergus Falls

(Pictured: Kristin Mohagen)

Josh and Kristin fell in love with chocolate making and the complexity of cacao while honeymooning in San Francisco. Their passion became TERROIR (pron: tare-whar) CHOCOLATE, meaning a sense of place.

“Each of our organic, single-origin dark chocolate bars have unique taste profiles, much like wine or coffee. We use ethically sourced cacao beans, hand sorted, small batch roasted, and stone-ground for several days, molded into bars and hand wrapped in Fergus Falls. Crafting chocolate our way is about patience with the process, nurturing the ingredients, and celebrating the beauty of it all."

Kristin's Drinking Chocolate is guaranteed to warm and soothe on even the chilliest winter nights.

Rick & Cindy Siewert and Jon Buck
Minneapolis

Wood From The Hood was born from a simple idea: reclaim discarded trees from the local neighborhoods to create beautiful, high-quality wood products. The idea came to Cindy and Rick Siewert as they watched an old Ash tree being cut down in the backyard of their Minneapolis home. Most trees in the metro region are sent to landfills, shredded into landscape mulch, or burned. These trees are able to live on in the form of sustainable, handcrafted wood products.

Mwila Kapungulya
Saint Louis Park

Founder, Mwila Kapungulya, migrated to Minnesota 15 years ago from Zambia, Africa to attend university. He is a computer scientist as well as culinary artisan. He founded Zambezi Kitchen to share his native land's rich culture through seasonings. The mighty Zambezi River near his birthplace is a major exchange for spices and cuisines from the region. This diverse combination of Southern African cuisines is known as "Rainbow Cuisine".

You'll want all 4 of their spice blends to amp up your grillables, sauces, and comfort foods like rice dishes, west indies jerk, BBQ ribs, chicken and burgers. "Zesty Herb" makes a wonderful marinade, salad dressing or olive oil bread dip. "Our goal is to honor our rich culinary traditions and inspire our customers to experiment with other food styles."

Mwila's Zambezi Beef Pot Roast will take center stage at your next feast!