Producer
Wildbrine
Address: 322 Bellevue Ave. Santa Rosa, , 95407
Website: Wildbrine.com
About Us
One of our founders, Rick, was “chief mentor” for teens at the Ceres Community Project, a local nonprofit whose mission is to restore locally grown, organic whole food to its place as the foundation of health for people, communities, and the planet. Rick’s role was to help develop large quantities of naturally fermented kraut for the organization’s client base of cancer patients. The krauts were a hit, so much so that Rick and Chris (Rick’s co-founder) helped Ceres sell the products to a few local stores as a way to raise funds for Ceres.
When the success of the natural krauts grew beyond the scope of the Ceres mission, the executive director asked if we wanted to take over the kraut business. We said yes. In 2011, with the two original kraut recipes (Arame & Ginger and Garlic & Dill), and placement in a few local stores, we evolved into wildbrine®.
Since 2011, we’ve been experimenting with fermented vegetables passionately. We’ve grown from the two original flavors to nine unique krauts, each boasting its own brightness, three bold kimchi flavors, two spicy srirachas, two delightfully unique fermented salsas, and now our plant-based creamery. Our business has grown too, and we know that if we continue to do the right thing – take good care of our customers, employees, suppliers, and community – wildbrine will naturally thrive. We are excited to continue exploring our wild possibilities.
About the Process
Our process starts with our partners—the local West Coast farmers. Just after the produce arrives onsite, we inspect every piece, then get it ready for production the hands-on-way, like you do at home—by chopping Napa cabbage, hand peeling ginger, finely chopping beets, grating horseradish root, and hand stemming, seeding, and coring jalapeños. It really makes a difference. Once our fresh raw ingredients are ready, we add sea salt and spices, mix, then tuck them away in the proper environment to ferment.
When the success of the natural krauts grew beyond the scope of the Ceres mission, the executive director asked if we wanted to take over the kraut business. We said yes. In 2011, with the two original kraut recipes (Arame & Ginger and Garlic & Dill), and placement in a few local stores, we evolved into wildbrine®.
Since 2011, we’ve been experimenting with fermented vegetables passionately. We’ve grown from the two original flavors to nine unique krauts, each boasting its own brightness, three bold kimchi flavors, two spicy srirachas, two delightfully unique fermented salsas, and now our plant-based creamery. Our business has grown too, and we know that if we continue to do the right thing – take good care of our customers, employees, suppliers, and community – wildbrine will naturally thrive. We are excited to continue exploring our wild possibilities.
About the Process
Our process starts with our partners—the local West Coast farmers. Just after the produce arrives onsite, we inspect every piece, then get it ready for production the hands-on-way, like you do at home—by chopping Napa cabbage, hand peeling ginger, finely chopping beets, grating horseradish root, and hand stemming, seeding, and coring jalapeños. It really makes a difference. Once our fresh raw ingredients are ready, we add sea salt and spices, mix, then tuck them away in the proper environment to ferment.
Practices
We love what fermentation does to food. The process elevates the flavor of produce and brings their nutrient and probiotic power to life. We focus on bringing out the best flavor of our fermented vegetables, while still staying true to the wholeness of each ingredient. Our favorite part is spending hours in our kitchen playing with different vegetable and spice combinations until we get it just right.
Of course, the fermentation process happens under our watchful eye. We monitor our batches of krauts, kimchis, and salsas carefully and on a daily basis. Once everything is tart, tasty, and ready, our team hand packs our containers—then wildbrine® is off to the stores and you. That’s it!
Of course, the fermentation process happens under our watchful eye. We monitor our batches of krauts, kimchis, and salsas carefully and on a daily basis. Once everything is tart, tasty, and ready, our team hand packs our containers—then wildbrine® is off to the stores and you. That’s it!