Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheri Valencia.
Hi Sheri, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from sunny Southern California where I began my career as a Registered Nurse in 1996, our journey then took us to Chicago from 2005-2009 then to beautiful Central Texas in 2009. Along the way I haves always cooked, baked, and tried various levels of homesteading. Preserving fruits & vegetables has been passed down from my grandmother who grew a variety of fruits & vegetables.
In early 2019, I started experimenting with eclectic flavor combinations above the standard flavors I would make every year for my family-strawberry preserves, grape jelly, etc. I started handing them out and taking them to my full-time job at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin and received great response. Afterwards I introduced them to my brother-in-law Michael Valencia who owns Mikey V’s Foods and taco shop Mikey V’s Tacos on the Square in Georgetown who encouraged me into food production and manufacturing. This then started my journey into fine-tuning the products I fell in love with to share with everyone. In Fall 2019, I entered my hot pepper jam into the World Food Championship in Dallas, TX and made the top 10, unknown to me at this time I would be cooking with nine other top chef’s in a cooking competition in the Biscuits & Jampionship Division. I won 2nd place in this event which inspired me to continue to develop and produce recipes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting in a realm that is not known to you is defiantly challenging, but exciting at the same time. One of the biggest struggles has been keeping up with the demand of the product and maintaining work-life balance. When something is your own and you create it from the ground up it can be challenging not to take everything personal, but as you grow and learn to set appropriate boundaries you are able to flourish.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Round Rock Jelly & Co.. is a small women owned business run bun our family out of Round Rock, Texas. We produce small batch jam + jellies from predominately locally sourced fruit + vegetables, many of them grown by us!! Our gourmet selection of jams + jellies are made with a variety of organic berries, chili’s and spices infused with a variety of liquors, wines, and spices. Some of our most popular flavors is our Drunk Cherry Jam with is the perfect blend of organic cherries, bourbon and vanilla, along with our spicier line of hot pepper jam, ghost pepper jelly and pineapple habanero jam. Most recently our Hot Pepper Jam won 1st place Scovie Award which is one of the most prestigious awards in the hot sauce, condiment industry, along with our Texas Bar Fight jam which won 2nd place in the sweet/mild division. Our promise to you is to keep it sweet and simple, we produce vegan, gluten free jams full of love and care.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
As a food manufacturer the essential characteristic is the culture of our company. Every interaction with each customer, wholesaler and vendor is an absolute joy to interact with. We maintain the value of the product we produce while continuing to grow at the same time.
Pricing:
- 4oz jar of jam + jelly $7.00
- Mini Jar Trio $9.00
Contact Info:
- Email: Roundrockjellyandco@yahoo.com
- Website: www.roundrockjellyandco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/roundrockjellyandco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/roundrockjelly
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