Conversations with Elizabeth Brkich

Hi Elizabeth, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi there!  Here’s a little something that was recently written about my company:

Heavens to Betsy, an award-winning family-owned specialty preserves company in Winter Park, Florida, recently celebrated its ninth anniversary of “spreading the love.” Founded in the fourth quarter of 2011, Heavens to Betsy looks back over the past nine years and has many more plans for its tenth year of operations. “Heavens to Betsy is truly a labor of love,” says Betsy Brkich, founder and CEO of Heavens to Betsy. “It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to produce a local, farm-to-table product in small batches, the community embraces.” Whenever possible, the company uses field-ripened produce direct from growers in the belief that “farm to table” results in the most flavorful products.

The company’s preserves use a fraction of the sugar found in most commercially prepared preserves. While the health benefits of less dietary sugar have been well documented, the company has a different reason—taste by reducing the sugar by half leaves room for 33 percent more fruit per serving, and some of her products are 85 percent fruit. These preserves can be eaten straight from the jar – by the spoonful.

My husband and I had a dream to start this company and our entire family and friends have been so supportive. We founded the company on 11.11.11. It’s hard to believe we are coming up on our ten-year anniversary this November. When I say: Spread the Love with Heavens to Betsy Gourmet Preserves and Spreads, I really mean it from my heart! I believe you can taste the difference in food created with love. (It’s the secret ingredient!) I love what I do and am enormously grateful to be able to share our products with our customers. We always look forward to hearing from them—some of our best ideas come from feedback from our friends at the special events and farmers markets and in our community. I like to say: “We make life more fruitful, one spoonful at a time!” If we bring a smile to someone’s face, especially during these trying times, we have done something worthwhile.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Early on, we were challenged by other local food purveyors. Perhaps they felt threatened? We were able to stay true to our initial motivation and secured the proper licenses and certifications. Today, our longevity speaks to the fact that we are honest and true “makers,” interested in making a difference in our community by providing the best preserves we possibly can, using local ingredients, without any preservatives or artificial ingredients. Each and every one of our products is “All Natural.” In collaboration with the award-winning chefs at Hamilton’s Kitchen (in the Alfond Inn, Winter Park) we have been able to create some very interesting jams and chutneys for specialty dishes on the rotating seasonal menus including, Pear Rhubarb Chutney and Un-Ripened Green Strawberry Preserves, among others. Heavens to Betsy recently teamed up with Jim Beam and created two popular jams, incorporating Maker’s Mark: Peach Bourbon Cinnamon and Blackberry Vanilla Bourbon. Heavens to Betsy has enjoyed creating signature Cocktails with Maker’s Mark. We like to call it: “What’s Your Jam?”

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
“One of the most exciting things I get to do in the kitchen is test out new recipe ideas,” says Betsy. “For example, years ago, I created an orange crush marmalade, which in addition to spreading on an English muffin in the morning, is fantastic when used as a glaze on a whole roasted chicken or stirred into a whiskey sour. I also developed two tomato-based jams, delicious on any kind of grilled meats, such as hamburgers, grilled Italian sausage, chicken, wild game, and panini’s. Chipotle Tomato Jam and Sweet Heirloom Tomato Jam have become two of our best-sellers.”

I was an art major in college and bring my creativity into each and every jam flavor, as well as the product packaging. I team up with local paper and fabric company: Rifle Paper Co. for the colorful paper and fabric toppers for our jam jars. Another facet of our business is the wedding industry, based at Maureen Hall Stationery and Invitations, Winter Park, FL.  We thoroughly enjoy working with brides and grooms in creating the best locally produced wedding favors for them to give to their guest. Local Raw pure honey is a favorite wedding favor. We like to say the couples names and “Meant to Bee!” on the label. Another favorite is seasonal jam, with the couples names and the phrase: “Spread the Love”! I think I am most proud of the fact that a sous chef at a local resort took one taste of my jam and announced: “This jam is life changing!”