Editor’s note: Throughout the summer months, there is no shortage of vendors filling the farmers’ markets of the Greater Green Bay area – each offering their own niche products and services.
Over the next few months, The Press Times will highlight these very vendors to give readers a peek at the people and passions behind the ventures.
If you’d like to be profiled as part of the series, reach out to Press Times editor Heather Graves at [email protected].
Patti Janz, owner of Pink Fusion Spices, Inc., said being a local farmers’ market vendor gives her an opportunity to share her love of cooking, flavor and salt with the community.
“I love the idea of getting healthier and more flavorful seasoning in people’s kitchens,” Janz said.
In 2017, as she approached retirement from the Appleton Area School District, Janz said she stumbled across a free E-Seed class, now called Innovative Accelerator Programs, for veterans at the Fox Valley Technical Venture Center.
“(As an Army veteran), I was able to participate in the program that June where I was able to build my skills around business, develop a business plan and connect with amazing entrepreneurs,” she said.
With family support and lots of behind-the-scenes assistance from her daughter, Amanda Dotson, Janz said she was able to launch Pink Fusion Spices, Inc. at the Downtown Appleton Farm Market in June 2018.
Pink Fusion Spices has since expanded – setting up shop for the past two years at the Broadway Farmers’ Market in Green Bay, and most recently taking part in the De Pere Farmers’ Market.
“I also attend various ones in Wisconsin throughout the year,” she said.
Though pink has always been Janz’s favorite color, the premise behind the name has more to do with the utilization of pink Himalayan salt.
“When I started using only pink Himalayan salt in my household, I realized it was important to use pink Himalayan salt in the spice blends as well,” she said. “Natural salts combined with organic spices, the name, Pink Fusion Spices, felt natural.”
The business offers spice blends, smoked salts, flavored salts and individual spices, all natural and organic.
Janz said Pink Fusion Spices has 67 different spices to choose from, in varying sizes.
“In addition to pink Himalayan salt, some of our most popular spices are sugar-free seasoning salt, guacamole seasoning, sizzlin’ steak, rosemary garlic, seafood butters, Cajun seasoning, chili lime salt, Vietnamese cinnamon, smoked paprika and sumac berry powder,” she said.
Janz said Pink Fusion also has a few new offerings this year including simply everything (with or without salt), herbs de Provence, French onion dip and curry seasoning, with more to come this summer.
She said part of what fuels her passion for Pink Fusion is the benefits pink Himalayan salt provides.
“From my experience and one of the reasons I love this salt is because I have experienced how it helps regulate the water content in your body, so that you are not as thirsty or swollen after eating too much salt,” she said. “To add to those benefits, we don’t use anti-caking agents or fillers. All preparations are gluten- and nut-allergen free. All spices we use are organic and we make small batches, so people receive fresh and flavorful spices.”
As a woman- and veteran-owned business, Janz said the interaction she is afforded with customers at the farmers’ markets is priceless – not only for promoting her product, but for her peace of mind.
“I love meeting new people,” she said. “I enjoy talking with my customers, they are truly great. I also enjoy assisting with any special needs they may have.”
The market community is one she said she’s humbled to be a part of.
“I love connecting with other vendors and seeing what they have and how they came about their business,” she said. “The people who run the markets and their helpers are always so kind and helpful. It is a great community of people.”