GREENVILLE, Wis. — A treat shop in Greenville is adding a unique twist to how they create candies.
It all started with Tricia Hermsen, who was looking for an alternative to preserve her vegetables.
She said that’s when she stumbled across freeze-drying. Soon she started selling freeze dried candy, not just natural foods.
“I’m not a candy eater,” said Hermsen. “I’m more on the savory side. So, I like our freeze-dried pickles. We just made some ranch pickles, which I had to put them in containers right away, or I was going to eat them all.”
When she started her business, Tria Frog Treats, she sold her goodies out of a bus. Now, she has a commercial kitchen and a shop.
She said she prefers being out and about rather than just in her brick-and-mortar store.
“Not enough people come to me to have those cool interactions and be at the fun events and stuff like that,” said Hermsen. “So, I was like, I want to take this on the road and be able to go wherever I want to go and to be able to set up.”
Hermsen recently hired a new employee to help during the busy summer months.
Nicole Parys works at a middle school health office during the school year. Parys said she wanted to stay busy during the summer break, so she applied to work with Hermsen.
“It’s fun, that’s what I was looking for is something fun,” said Parys. “I don’t want to just stand around all day, and I’m definitely not doing that.”
Hermsen creates over 200 different products with her machines. She said she was surprised at how fast her business has grown.
She said she is thankful for everyone who has helped her get to where she is now.
“When I have someone walk in and say, ‘We drove two hours to come to you,’ instant tears because I’m so humble,” said Hermsen. “It wasn’t on my career path and this is just something that kind of brings all of my previous experience from past lives together and I could use every day.”
Hermsen said she plans to continue to spread joy through her treats and that means pushing the boundaries as she creates new tasty treats.