Putting a new twist on old recipes
With added ingredients such as sriracha, craft beer, smoked chilies, and local honey and maple syrup, Rise & Brine Pickle Company’s handmade vegetable and condiment creations aren’t your grandmother’s preserves.
“We use local produce and traditional techniques that have been passed down from mothers and grandmothers but infused with modern and global flavours,” said owner Cortney Wagner.
“My family has been making pickles for generations and they were always a staple,” she said. “I love the idea of preserving the harvest and enjoying it throughout the year.”
Cortney says she will use seasonal Island ingredients, establish relationships with local farmers, and deliver high quality, hand-crafted products. They plan to sell first to Island farmers markets, stores, restaurants and bars, and then focus on specialty food and grocery stores throughout the Maritimes, and eventually across Canada.
“I'm also a big believer in contributing to a more democratic food system, where many small producers give consumers more choices for what they spend their money on,” she said.
Rise & Brine was awarded a grant through the Innovation PEI Ignition Fund, which allows entrepreneurs to compete for start-up capital to turn their idea into a tangible, viable business.
“Winning the Ignition grant really allows us to take this from idea to reality,” she said. “I am beyond grateful to Innovation PEI for choosing us as one of the recipients.”
The funding will allow Rise & Brine to purchase equipment, renovate existing space for bigger production, and focus on branding and marketing their unique products.
Wagner grew up in West Prince, where entrepreneurship runs in her family. She also owns the Catch Kitchen + Bar in West Point, while her sister owns the Landing Oyster House and Pub, and her parents recently opened Moth Lane Brewing.
Cortney worked in the restaurant industry in Alberta and Ontario before moving back to PEI to open her own restaurant in 2014. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UPEI with a major in English Literature.
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