Everyone always knew they could find the best baking in Lynne Mugridge’s kitchen.
“The women in my family were good bakers and I learned from them. I always bring the baking to pot lucks,” she said. “Family and friends encouraged me to do it commercially and this is my 10th season. I go to local farmers’ markets and I’m looking forward to my first time at the Shoparama Spring Market this year.”
While she calls her business Lynne’s Granola Bars (she has 15 flavours), Mugridge also makes cookies, squares and nut-free trail mix.
“I like taking recipes and tweaking them to be my own,” said the mother of five, who home schools her children, ages seven to 15.
“I’m super-organized. My husband and I have always been entrepreneurs and we know how to organize and stay focused. I think more people could be entrepreneurs if they are willing to take the risk. If you have a good product it will do well.”
Her products, made with no artificial preservatives or additives, have done well from the time she started selling them. She also sells eggs from her free-range chickens and takes orders for baking over the winter.
“I often wonder how far my baking goes because I get a lot of tourists in the summer. I know one mother bought some to send to her son in the military in Afghanistan and that people stock up to take it as far away as the Northwest Territories, the East Coast and the U.S. I also ship product. I like to see people get the bars or cookies or squares as a snack and enjoy it right there,” said Mugridge. “I’ve been to Shoparama as a shopper and loved it. There’s everything there, I always find something special. I think it will be really good being there as a vendor.”
The Shoparama Spring Market has crafters, entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, entertainment, goodies for kids, door prizes and a concession. It takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Vernon Recreation Complex. Admission is free but a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank would be welcome.
