Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Trujillo.
Hi Alexis, 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?
Pecan & Proper was born out of an unexpected chapter in our family’s life. After a car accident, we found ourselves needing to find a way to provide for our family. I hadn’t set out to become an entrepreneur, but sometimes life takes you in directions you never anticipated.
I had been making brown-butter, brown-sugar pecans and bringing them to parties and gatherings. They were always a hit, and my mom was the one who suggested I try selling them at a farmers market. That simple suggestion sparked what would eventually become Pecan & Proper.
Our first market setup was about as humble as it gets: a basic white tent, one table, a tablecloth, and baskets I gathered from around our house to display the products. I wanted the packaging to feel special, even in those early days, so I designed the bags with little bows to make them gift-worthy, almost like something you’d find tucked into a Christmas stocking. Customers loved them, and the bows and overall aesthetic became such a recognizable part of our presentation that we kept them as the brand grew.
At the time, I wasn’t thinking about building a brand or imagining where the business might go. I was simply trying to make that first sale and create an additional source of income for our family. What started as a way to navigate a difficult season has grown into something I never could have anticipated.
Today, Pecan & Proper has grown from that one-market operation and a single pecan flavor into a business with a presence at more than six markets and a collection of eight flavors. We’ve continued to introduce our products to new customers, build relationships within our community, and explore new opportunities. Looking ahead to 2027, we’re anticipating an expansion of our team, which is an especially exciting milestone as we work toward growing the business into its next chapter.
When I look back, it’s pretty special to think that this all began with a suggestion from my mom, a few baskets from around the house, one recipe, and a table under a white tent. We started out simply trying to provide for our family, and along the way, we built something that has become so much bigger than we initially imagined. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and excited about what’s ahead.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most small businesses, we’ve had our share of growing pains. In the beginning, one of our biggest challenges was finding the right markets and figuring out where our products fit. Growing a following, building a customer base, and finding the right audience for what we make takes time. Not every market is the right fit, and learning where our products resonate most has been a process of trial and error.
On a personal level, balancing the business with family life has probably been one of our biggest challenges. There have been weeks when I’m in the kitchen two to three days and at markets another two days, all while being a full-time mom, wife, and homemaker. Running a small business doesn’t always fit neatly into a schedule, and there’s always something that needs to be done. There’s also the financial uncertainty. You never really know what a week or weekend will bring in terms of sales, which can make planning and feeling secure difficult.
The accident also left me with physical limitations, and it exacerbated some existing mental health challenges. There have been times when balancing the physical demands of production and markets with being the person responsible for running the business has felt overwhelming. I think that’s something people don’t always see when they look at a small business from the outside.
But there’s also been an unexpected bright spot in all of it. I’ve found that making our nuts has become an outlet for me. When I’m in the kitchen, I can turn on some music, get into my rhythm, and often find myself singing while I work. It’s become a creative space and a little bit of an escape from everything else going on. In many ways, the very business that came out of a difficult season has also given me something personally meaningful.
I’m still learning how to find balance, and I certainly don’t have it all figured out. But I’ve learned that building a business isn’t just about growing sales or reaching milestones. It’s also about learning your own limits, adapting when things get hard, and finding joy in the little things along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We specialize in developing and curating distinctive flavor combinations, with a creative process that involves plenty of experimenting, tasting, adjusting, and testing until we get each one just right. We don’t rush creativity or settle for good enough. Every flavor is thoughtfully developed, and every batch is tested before it leaves our hands. If it isn’t exceptional, it doesn’t make it to market or onto a shelf.
These aren’t the nuts you’ll find on just any grocery store shelf. We do things differently. We use organic ingredients, never seed oils, and take a no-nonsense approach to quality. We believe what goes into a product matters just as much as how it tastes, and we’re unwilling to compromise on either.
We’re most proud of our unwavering standards and the family-founded, family-run business we’ve built around them. Our faith is at the heart of who we are and how we approach this journey. We believe in honoring God through our work, leading with gratitude, treating others with kindness, and being good stewards of the opportunities we’ve been given.
Every decision, from ingredient selection to the finished product, reflects how much we care about what we make. Our goal is to create distinctive products and deliver an exceptional experience that keeps people coming back.
We aren’t interested in following the crowd. We’re interested in creating products we believe in, standing behind what we make, and doing things the PROPER way.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are so many ways people can support us, and we’re always excited to connect with others who appreciate what we’re creating. The simplest way is to shop with us at one of our farmers markets, visit our retail partners at **Farm Nine in Oakland, FL**, and **The Makers Market & Farmacy in Lakeland, FL**, shop our website, follow along on social media, or share Pecan & Proper with friends and family. Word of mouth means so much to a small business, and every recommendation, purchase, and social media share helps us reach someone new.
We absolutely love collaborations! Connecting with other small businesses, local makers, retailers, and creative entrepreneurs is one of our favorite parts of being a small business. We love dreaming up new ideas, finding ways to bring brands together, and creating something special that introduces us to new audiences. Whether it’s a retail partnership, a special event, custom gifting, or a fun creative project, we’re always excited to collaborate.
Ultimately, we’re building Pecan & Proper one relationship at a time. We genuinely appreciate the people who choose to support small, shop local, and help independent businesses grow. Every bit of support makes a difference, and we’re grateful for the community that’s helped us get where we are today.
You can find us online at **www.pecanandproper.com** and on Instagram at **@pecanandproper**.
Pricing:
- 5 oz. bags. – 1 for $10 or 3 for $25.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pecanandproper.com
- Instagram: pecanandproper
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pecanandproper
