Sometimes in life things start long before you even sense you are on a new path. And only

after a long time of trials and tribulations do you recognise the new path you are walking

on. This is also my case and this is my story.

I was born in Eastern Europe straight after the fall of Communism, when times were hard

and people were making the most with what they had. In that time life was traditional,

simple and seasonal: people were eating local seasonal fresh produce, in Summer and

Autumn women would make pickles, jams and delicious spreads, which would all be

consumed the coming winter. I spent my summers eating red, sweet watermelons, juicy

peaches which would melt in the mouth and Autumn’s sweet and sour plums were a delight

worth waiting until September. Strawberries were the first fruit to come in the season in

late May and we would all spend the previous month driving our parents’ crazy asking about

them.

Winters were hard because we didn’t have as many fresh fruits. One snowy winter day

when I was 5 or 6 years old my father took me for a family visit to his aunt and she offered

me a little surprise. She gave me dehydrated apple skins, which I had never seen before. It

was a mystery to the little 5 year old me. I still vividly remember the red and green skins

filling my little hands and the smell which reminded me of summer’s fresh apples. I bit the

first piece and the sweetness of the apple filled my mouth. It felt like no matter how much I

would chew, the flavour would never end. I received a little gift for home and that was the

end of my little dry apple experience.

13 years later, I moved to the United Kingdom for University, where I also lived and worked

in finance for the following 10 years. Life changed dramatically for me when I started

working. The long hours and the change in my diet as a result, the stress, all started to have

an impact on my health. I decided I needed and wanted a change, so I returned to my home

country with the desire to change my lifestyle and start a business in the food industry.

Whilst our organic farm dreams grew, Aunt apple skins passed away and my family

purchased the house in which I had my little dry fruit experience. It was in this year that

dehydration as method to preserve vegetables and fruits became a passion and a viable

solution to some of today’s food waste and complicated food distribution.

Armed with a small dehydrator and determination, I started testing and experimenting

with that summer’s sweet potato crop from our organic farm and other fruits from the

farmers in the local villages. I fell in love with the results and realised why my father’s aunt

was so patiently preserving her apples, figs and plums from her own garden.

Today we are very proud to welcome you to our range of dried fruit slices and speciality

flours.