Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Gonzalez
Hi Trey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been into creating great flavors since I was kid. Whether I was smoking meats or making salsa with my father, helping my grandmothers preserve what we grew on the farm or learning our traditional family recipes, it’s just what I love to do.
As an adult, when life and business (I had a landscape/design business) would get crazy, I turned to gardening and canning as a stress reliever. Eventually I had canned more than we could store or eat, so I shared with clients and friends. All it took was a few compliments on my flavors, then a few more AND a few more until I decided to slap a label on it and start selling at local markets. From there I built a following, a repeat customer base and continue to grow.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Slow and steady was the intention from the beginning, making sure we’re ready before taking a next step. Of course with any business there are challenges. We depend on the weather and growing seasons for our produce, both for what we grow and what we source from farmers as our business grows. The weather can also factor into the success of our markets. Basically, as prepared as we try to be, there are going to be forces beyond our control to deal with. We just try to roll with it and keep a positive attitude knowing that we will have blessings as well as challenges.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Flat Brim Farmer is a pickle company with an urban street vibe. I continue experimenting to create elevated flavors for our pickle products while having fun with the brand. I grew up a latch key kid, watching MTV for hours after school when they still played music videos. The influence of Yo! MTV Raps, hip-hop slang and MTV Spring Break is obvious in the product names; What’s Tha Dill, Yo!, Bangin’ Bread and Butters, Hot Honeys, Slammin’ Jams. We also love collabing with artist friends to create cool merch designs, such as our Grow Some Sh*t and Gardening is Dope tees, hats and stickers. At markets you’ll find us passing out samples of our addictive pickles in small baggies asking customers to support their local pickle dealer. What sets our pickles apart? It’s the layered experience. Crunch. Flavor. Spice. In that order.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m just a really social guy. I enjoy talking to people and hearing their stories. I always find something to connect with and learn from everyone I meet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.flatbrimfarmer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theflatbrimfarmer/
