Also in Angela’s corner is the Women’s Business Enterprise Council of Florida, a community of mentors, advisers, stra- tegic alliances, champions, and supporters of women in business. Old St. Augustine Gourmet is WBENC-certified. “It really allows me to join forces with other women and business owners and leaders all over the United States,” she explained. “It has really helped to expand our visibil- ity and has open doors to some corporate suppliers that I probably would not have had access to before. It really is an amazing group of women. I’m currently working with them on a few different opportunities like potentially exporting my first products, which will probably be to Canada. The mentorship there is so great and I can’t wait to turn that around and help mentor someone else.” One of the government entities in the Sunshine State that works closely with many WBNEC-certified businesses is the Florida Department of Agriculture. “We are working with the State of Florida at the moment with the ‘Fresh from Florida’ program, which is through the Florida Department of Agriculture,” Angela explained. “They are helping to train and give grants to small farmers
and people who want to learn how to farm and grow things like datil peppers, for example. Knowing they have someone who has already said ‘You grow them, I’m going to buy them from you so I can use them in my product’ is important. We’re actually helping local economies and the county that the agricultural department is focusing its efforts on is one of the poorest counties in the State of Florida. It’s a win-win situation for them and for us.” “I’m currently working with them on a few different opportunities like potentially exporting my first products, which will probably be to Canada.” It’s also a win-win for Old St. Augustine Gourmet custom- ers. Working closely with small operation local farmers fits Angela’s business model: small batches equals unrivaled quality control which means award-winning flavour.
The Old St. Augustine Gourmet small farm-to-bottle
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DECEMBER 2018 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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