Women in Food on Fire at The Fresh Market

In honor of Women’s History Month, women-owned and -operated food companies will be celebrated throughout the month of March at Greensboro, N.C.-based The Fresh Market. The more than 100 products from women-owned companies will be highlighted throughout the store with signage, as well as in social media.

This is the second year The Fresh Market is highlighting women suppliers. Last year, Bisousweet Confections, Live Love Pop, Me & The Bees Lemonade, Bixby & Co and Callie’s Biscuits were highlighted. “They all have inspiring stories of following their passion and making a difference,” the company said.

Additional products made by women-owned businesses to be highlighted this year include Ethel’s Baking Co.’s gluten-free dessert bars and cookies; van Hoekelen Greenhouses Inc., which grows most of the spring potted bulb plants found at The Fresh Market; and edible cookie dough made without eggs (as featured on Shark Tank) by The Cookie Dough Cafe.

“We are committed to offering the best of specialty foods at The Fresh Market, and it is really exciting to see the growth of products that are developed, launched and run by women,” said Maren Trocki, The Fresh Market director of dairy and frozen merchandising, in a statement. “All of these products were created out of their personal passions and missions, and it shows in meeting a unique need like clean ingredients or gluten-free, as well as delivering on taste.”

Products from Partake will also be on display. When Denise Woodard’s daughter was diagnosed with severe food allergies, she founded Partake, a line of cookies and baking mixes that are gluten-free, vegan and friendly to those with food allergies. As a Black female CEO and founder, Woodward is also passionate about supporting Black and female entrepreneurs, as well as women and people of color in the food industry.

Susan O’Brien turned her passion for plant-based, raw foods into a line of indulgent snacks that come in cups, bites and tarts, such as Chocolate Peanut Butter or Key Lime. Her Hail Merry products are non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and paleo-friendly, as well as grain- and dairy-free, and can be found in the refrigerated aisle at The Fresh Market.

Jeni’s Ice Cream Founder Jeni Britton Bauer uses whole ingredients and dairy from grass-pastured cows. Her first cookbook, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home, is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller and won a James Beard Award in 2012. Her company is a certified B-Corp and has committed to zero waste in all of its shops.